Hardwicke's science-gossip : an illustrated medium of interchange and gossip for students and lovers of nature

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HARDWICKE'S

SCIENCE-GOSSIP

For 1872.

HAEDWICKE'S

JJSitt :

AN ILLUSTEATED MEDIUM Or INTERCHANGE AND GOSSIP

FOR STUDENTS AND

LOVERS OF NATURE

Edited by J. E. TAYLOR, F.G.S., &c.,

HON. MEMBER OP THE MANCHESXEll I.ITEEARY CLUl! ; HON'. SIEMBEK OF ROTUEKH.Vil LITERARY

AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY J OF LODDON LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY J AUTHOR

OF "GEOLOGY OF MANCHESTER AND TH3 NEIGHBOURHOOD," "GEOLOGICAL

ST0RIE5

HALF-HOURS AT THE SEASIDE, ETC.

2'^
:/>,

LONDON:
ROBERT HARDWICKE, 192, PICCADILLY

1878.

WYMAN AUD SO>"S,
OKIENTAL, CLASSICAL, AND GENERAL IBINTEUS,
GKEAT QUEEN STREET, LONDON, V,'.C.

I oS r"^

1872.

HE Editor can liardly realize the fact that
twelve months have elapsed since he under-
took the responsible duties of conducting
this Magazine. To step into the vacant
chair of so able a predecessor might well
have deterred a bolder man. There were
new friends to make, old friends to get
iuted with, — and Science-Gossip could boast of
e circle. The mouths were to bring with them
hosts of queries, some of them an}^ but patient
ones, and requiring information that was all but
omniscient !

But it was not long ere we felt that in the sheer
love of Science we had a streng-th that mig-ht be
calculated upon. Supporting us were men whoso
names are " household words " in the departments of
science they have devoted themselves to, and from
them we have received willing and valuable help,
without which we could not have done our duty to our readers. Out
of a grateful heart, therefore, on our own behalf, as well as on that
of the querists who have profited by their advice and instruction^
we tender to them our best thanks.

The scope of Science-Gossip we have not altered — believing it could
not well be altered for the better. We stand between the High Priests
of pure science and the humbler votaries who would know its wisdom.
Our ambition is not to be esteemed learned, so much as to be deemed
useful. By uniting in monthly fellowship the unassuming but ardent
lovers of nature, we feel we are doing much good ; by giving them the
means of noting phenomena Avorth notice, comparing notes, and in

relieviug each other's difficulties^ we are helping ou that reigu of
"Good-will towards men/' which this especial season In-ings to our
minds.

We have endeavoured to do our duty — if we have failed, we
crave that forbearance which men should always receive from their
brethren. For any shortcomings, omissions, or faults, we implore
pardon, hoping that even by these we may learn wisdom. In the
strength of the experience of one short year we hope to do better.
Whilst thanking our readers for many expressions of kindly sympathy
and encouragement received during our " Year of Office,'' we extend
to thera the Editorial hand, and wish them most heartily

'■ A Happy New Year ! "

LIST OF ILLUSTEATIONS.

Acer })seudo-plafanus, 99.
Acrnlepis, Scales of, 176.
Agrion minium, 13.
Amblyopsis spelmus, 54.
Ammonites bifrons, 275.

communis, 275.

obtusus, 275.

Ancectochilus argenteus, &c., 2(H.
Ancient Seals, 4,41.
Aphrodederus sciymius, 152.
Artotrogus hydnosporus, 225.
Aurora by Daylight, 6.

Banded Sun--fish, 29.

Beech, Leaf of, 98.

Belemnites, 252, 253.

Baberry, Hybrid, 248, 249.

Blackcap, 206.

Bladder Campion, Polleu of, Gl.

Blind Fishes, 54, 55.

Blowpipe for Birds' Eggs, 74.

Brassia maculata, 204.

Buccinum undatum and Eggs, 181.

Bulb-tube for Birds' Eggs, 74.

Butterfly set out, 120, 242.

C'ABiXET Drawer for Birds' E»;<;s, 76,

Caddis-worms, 13.

Cage for Virgin Lepidoptera, 123.

Calamite, Sections of, 80, Si .

Calipteryx virgo, 13.

Callitriche ver?ia, 128.

Camberwell Beauty, 2of».

Campodea, 2*3.

Cephalutus follicularis, 204.

Ceratodnn purpitmis, 51.

Ceteracli, 205.

Chiff-chatf, 20t5.

Chologaster Agassizii, 55.

cornutus, 55.

Cladudus, Teeth of, 1 76.

Cnicus lanceolatus, Polleu of, 61.

Coreopsis tinctoria, 203.

Crangon vulgaris, 157.

Cup-shaped Sponge, 202.

Cyanide and Chloroform Bottles, I2>i.

Darlingtonia Californica, 203.
Desert, Manna of the, 60.
Development of Hydra, 133, 134, 135.
Dianthus chinensis, 203.
Drills for Perforating Birds' Eggs, 73,

EoGS, Blowpipe for, 74,

, Bulb-tube for, 74.

, Cabinet Drawer for, JQ.

, Drills for Perforating, 7;>.

, Sliding Stage for, 76.

Elm, supposed Parasite of, IDS, 100.
Ephemera vulgatu, 13.
Erica ciliaris. Pollen of, 61 .
Euphrasia, Pollen of, 61.

Fagus sylvaticus, 98.

Fishes, Blind, 54, 55.

Fish Scales, 104, 176.

Fish, the Pirate, 152.

Flint Implements, 228, 229, 2;?0.

Floscularia edentat'.t, 10.

FlOoCularia trilnbata, 10,
Flowering Rush, 205.
Fungi, Cabinet for, 197.
Fungi, Dissection of, 195, 196.

G.VR-PIKE, THE, 269.

Geological Implements, 27.
Glass-rope Sponge, the, 36,

.Polythoa on, 56.

.Spicules of, 37, 38.

Glow- worm Cage, 68.
Gonepteryx libatrix, 12.

Hawfinch, 205.

Helleborine, Polleu of, 61.

Hi/'racium, Pollen of, 6I.

Hills, Terraced, at Galway, &c., 84.

Syalonema mirahilis, 36.

,Polythoa on, 56.

, Spicules of, 37, 38.

Hybrid Bilberrv, 248, 249.

Hydra, Development of, 133, 134, 135.

lupLEMENTS, Stone, &c., 228, 229, 230.
Ipomcea Qiiinnoclit, §7.

Japyr, 272.

Jucundus conglomeratus, Pollen of, 61 •

Lantern and Net, 123.

Larvre, Apparatus for Preserving, 20O .

I.arvse, Box./or, 122.

Lepidicyrtus curvicotlis, 101.

Lepidoptera, Cage for.Virgin, 123.

Lepidoptera, Setting out, 125, 120, 241,

242.
Lepidosteus osseus, 269.
Lepisma saccharina, 273.
Libellula depressa, 13.
Lichen esculentus, 60.
Lime-tree Leaf, 98.
Loch Islay, Trout of, 85.
Lucanus cervus, 14.

Manna op the Desert, 60,

Megalichthys, Scale of, 176.

Melicerta socialis, 10.

Mentha viridis. Pollen of, 61.

Microscopical Trougli, 256.

Mimuius, 203.

Moon wort, 205.

Morchella crassipes, 205.

Moth, Settuig Out, 125, II6, 241, 242.

Net for Sugaring, 124.
Net, Umbrella, 122.
Newt, Ova of, 12'.
Notommata caudata, 11.

Orobus tuberosus. Pollen of, 61,
Orodus, Tooth of, 176.
Ova of Newt, 128.

Paltirnon serratus, 156.
Sr/uil/ci, 156.

Parasite, supposed, of Elm, Idb, 10*.
Parasitic Rotifer (?J 112.
" Pencil tail," the, 32.
Peronospora alsineurum, 226.

infestans, 224, 225.

Petrobius muritinms, §c., 274,
Phryganea grandis, 13.
Physcia parittinn, 220.
Pike, the Gar, 269.
Pink, Variegated, 203.
Pirate-fish, the, 152.
Pitchstone, Section of, 110.
Podura, Head of the Test, 101.
Pollen-grains, Various Forms of. 61
Polypothecia, 202, 245.
Polythoa on Hyalonema, 56.
Polyxemis Lagitrus, 32.

Hairs of, 32.

Porphyrine, Section of, HI,
Potamogeton, Pollen of, 61 .
Protocystis aurita, 221.

Wullichiana, 221.

Pseudo-diadema variolare. 202.

Reflex Illu.minator, 159.
Rotifer, Parasitic, 112.
Rumia cratiegata, 12.
Rush, Flowering, 205.

Sanguisorba officinalis, Pollen of, 6I.
Saws of Sawflies, 157.
Scabiosa arvensis. Pollen of, 61.
Scale of Smelt, 104.
Scales of Fish, 104, 176.
Seal of Liverpool, Ancient, 41.
Seal of Margaret, Queen of Scotland, 4.
Seaweed Press, 172.
Section-cutting Machine, 177.
Smelt, Scale of, 104.
Spondylus spinosus, 202.
Sponge, the Glass-rope, and Spicules, 36,
37, 38.

, Polythoa on, 56.

Stag Beetle, Dissection of, 14.
Stephanops uniseta, 11.
Stonechat, 206.

Stone Implements, 228, 229, 230.
Sugaring Net and Drum, 124.
Sun-fish, the Banded, 29.
Sycamore, Leaf of, 99.

Teeth of Carboniferous Fish, 176.
Terraced Hills at Galway, &c., 84.
Thunderbolts, 252, 253.
Tilia Europea, 98.
Tor tula maralis, 50.
Trout of Loch Islay, 83.
Tubularia clathrata, 180.
Typhlichthys subterraneus, 55.

Umbrella Net, 122.

Vanessa Antiopa, 250.
Variegated Pink, 203.

W'ENtiAM's Reflex Illumin.\tor, 159-
Whelk and Eggs, 181.

SCIENCE IN THE TENTH AND TWELFTH CENTUEIES.

By r. KITTON.

CIEXCE in the tenth
century! the reader
may be tempted to
exclaim. What did
they know of science
iu those dark ages ?
Compared with the
knowledge of a charity-school
boy of the present day, it
must be admitted that scien-
tific knowledge at that period
was small indeed. It is popu-
larly supposed that the clergy*
were desirous to keep what
knowledge Ihey possessed to
themselves. This, however,
is not the fact ; the dense
ignorance of the mass of the
people, and the limited means
of diifiising knowledge, ren-
',' dered instruction of any kind

both expensive and difficult.
The specimens of popular science I am about to
introduce to your notice are taken from M5S. that
must have attained a certain amount of popularity.
The first is a Manual of Astronomy, of which
several copies are still extant. It is written in
Anglo-Saxon, The name of the compiler is un-
known, and it consists mainly of a free translation
of a portion of Bede's Be Natura Reritm. The ex-
tracts are literal translations from the Anglo-Saxon.
The following extract is a specimen of the com-
piler's Anglo-Saxon : — " Ic wolde eac gyf ic dorste
pluccian sura gehwcede andgyt of thsere bee the
Beda se snolera lareow gesette & gaderode of
manegra wisra lareowa bocum, be thees geares
ymbrenum fram anginne middan-eardes that nis to
spelle ac elles to rsedenne tham the hit licath." —
"I would eke, if I durst, pluck some little infor-

* This word had not at that period the restricted meaning
it now bears ; it simply meant one who could read aad
write.

Xo. 85.

mation out of the book which Bede, the skilful
master, formed and compiled out of the books of
many wise masters concerning the courses of the
year from the beginning of the world. This is not
for a discourse, but otherwise to be read by those
whom it pleases."

" Truly when the Almighty Creator created this
world, He said, 'Let there be light !' and directly

there was light On the second day God made

heaven, which is called the firmament, which is
visible and corporeal ; and yet we may never see it,
on account of its great elevation and the thickness
of the clouds, and on account of the weakness of
our eyes.

" The heavens incloses in its bosom all the world,
and it ever turns about us swifter than any mill-
wheel, all as deep under the earth as it is above. It
is all round, and studded with stars. Truly the
other heavens that are above and beneath are inde-
scribable and unsearchable of men. There are, in-
deed, many more heavens, as the prophet said,
* the heaven of heavens.' "

The compiler proceeds to describe the remaining
days of creation in similar language. His descrip-
tion of the sixth day's creation is scarcely in
accordance with the account, in Genesis. He says
that God made all kind of animals, and all cattle
that go on four feet, and the two men Adam and
Eve (& tha twegen menn Adam &Efan). "On the
seventh day he ended his work, and the week was
then completed. Now every day in this world is
the result of the sun's light. Truly the sun goes by
God's command between heaven and earth by day
above, and by night under the earth, so far under
the earth in the night-time as she rises above it in
the day. She is ever running about the earth, and
so light shines under the earth by night, as she does
above our heads by day. The sun is very great —
broad she is,* so the books tell, as the whole com-
pass of the earth ; but she appears to us very small,

* The sun and moon in Anglo-Saxon and moat ol the
northern languages are respectively female and male.

B

K A il D W I C K E'S S C I E N C E-G O S S 1 r.

because she is far from our sight. The sun is typi-
cal of our Saviour Christ, who is the Sun of Right-
eousness, as tl'.e propliet said, ' To the men who
fear God, the Suu of Righteousuess shall arise, aud
health is ou her pinions.' The stars also, which
seem to be very little, are very broad ; and, ou
account of the great moisture which is between us,
seem to our sight very small. Yet they could not
send any light to our earth from the high heaven, if
they were so small as they appear to our eyes.

" Truly the moon aud all the stars receive light
from the great sun, aud none of them hath any rays
but of the sun's rays ; and though the sun shines
under the earth at night, yet her light ascends on a
part of the earth which lights up the stars above us,
and when she rises she overcomes the light of all
the stars and the moon also by lier immense light.
The moon, that waxes and wanes, is tj^ucal of the
present generation in which we are. He is waxing
by the children who are born, and waning by those
v/ho die. The bright stars are typical of the be-
lievers in God's congregation, M'ho shine in good
converse."

The compiler enters rather minutely iuio the sub-
ject of the position of the sun at various periods of
the year. He then goes on to say that the night is
divided into seven parts, from tlie sun's setting.
" One of these parts is crepusculum ; that is, evening's
gloaming. The second is vesperum ; that is, evening.
The third is conticmmm, M^heu all things are silent
in their rest. The fourth is intempesticm ; that is,
midnight. The fifth is gallicinium ; that is, cock-
crowing. The sixth is raatuiiiuim, or Aurora ; thai is,
dawning. The seventh is dillcidum ; that is, early
morning, between dawn and sunrise. Weeks and
months are known to men according to their under-
standing of them ; and though we should describe
them according to bookish meaning, it will seem to
unlearned men too deep aud uncommon."

Several pages are devoted to the various divisions
of the calendar, and he also devotes soiue time in
endeavouring to convince his readers that, although
the moon is spoken of as new and old, and waxing
and waning, still she really does not change, but that
the different appearances are produced by theposition
of the sun. " No Christian shall divine anything by
the moon ; if he doth, his belief is nought. If the
sun lights him from above, then h.e will stoop ; if she
lights him right athwart, then he is equally horned ;
if the sun lights him from below, then he inclines
up. Because he always turns his back to the sun,
he is so turned as the suu lights him.

"Now, say some men, who do not know this
reason, that the moon turns him according as the
weather shall be in the )nonth ; but neither weather
nor unweather (A.-S. un-wcder) turns him from
that which is his nature."

Our friend now proceeds to describe divers
stars.

*' Some men say that stars fall from heaven ; but it
is not stars that fall, but fire from the sky, which
flies from the heavenly bodies as sparks do from fire.
[^Qiiei-i', has the present President of the British
Association cribbed this idea from this manual r]
Certainly there are as many stars in the heavens as
there were when God made them. They are also
fixed in the firmament, and M'ill not fall from hence
while the world endures."

The atmosphere is described as one of the four
elements in v.4iieh we live, and in which every cor-
poreal body dwells. "There are four elements in
which all earthly bodies dwell, which are — aer,
ignis, terra, aqua. Aer is atmosphere ; ignis, fire ;
ierra, earth; aqua, water. Air is a very thin cor-
poreal element. It goes over the whole world, and
extends up nearly to the moon. No man or auy
cattle has any breathing except by means of air.
The breath that we blow out is not the soul, but is
the air in which we live in thi« mortal life."

The treatise concludes wath a short description
of rain, hail, snow, and thunder, which he thus ex-
plains : —

" Thunder comes of heat and moisture. The atmo-
sphere draws the moisture to it from below and the
heat from above, and when they are gathered to-
gether, the heat and moisture within the atmosphere
strive with each other with fearful noise, and tl;e
fire bursts out and injures the produce of the earth,
if it be greater than the moisture. If the moisture
be greater than the fire, then it does good. It is
loud on account of the extent of the air, and dan-
gerous on account of the shooting of the fire. Be
this treatise here ended, God help my hands."

These brief extracts will suiiice to show the state
of physical science in the tenth century. Almost all
his facts arc, as we now know, mere assertions, aud
in many cases wholly devoid of truth ; but from an
observation made by our author, he appears to have
had no mean opinion of his scientific knowledge. He
very modestly remarks, that " he knows that it will
seem incredible to unlearned men if we speak
scientifically concerning the stars and concerning
their courses."

The next treatise to which I will call your atten-
tion is written in Anglo-Norman by Philip de Tliaun,
The earliest existing MS. dates about the twelfth
century. It is devoted almost entirely to an ex-
planation of the calendar. He commences by
stating his reasons for writing the book ; among
others, in order to enable priests to maintain the
law (that is, the time when festivals and fasts
ought to be observed) ; and lie thus disposes of
tliose critics who may happen to find fault with the
work, or venture to doubt its usefulness : — " But
whatever some may say who have got no sense,
that I have laboured in vain when I made this
book, they will swear, it may be by the virtues of
heaven, that I never knew how to rhyme or set out

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE-GOSSIT.

3

a!i argument, but I care uot what a fool says ; I do
not repent. There are ill speakers enough when
there are few encomiasts ; men who blame, and
none who amend. I never invented or laboured at
it for fools ; know that it is villany, and I hold it
folly that a man should judge if he knows not how
to plead, or to blame what be cannot amend. So
the villain said in reproof to the drunkard : ' The
worst wheel cries in the cart.' ' Very hard is the
apple which never ripens.' "

You will perceive that the autlior, like Sancho
Pauza, has a liking for proverbs, and he introduces
them at every opportunity. One or two short ex-
tracts will suffice to give you an idea of the scientific
value of this treatise : — " It is called a week which is
formed of seven days. Orighially God invented it by
six days that he worked; on the seventh he reposed.
This lie called a week. And so it is written in the
law which we read : six days we ouglit to work, and
rest the seventh, for the love of the Lord, who kept
this day. And now we will show why the days are
named. The Pagans invented the names which
they gave to the days. The first, which we call
Sunday, they gave to the sun, and gave his name
to it because he enlightened the world and drove
away night ; and it pleased God that it should be
so called, for it was his day, and he chose to have
it. The second day they gave and assigned to the
moon, for the world which she enlightened when
the sun is set. The other days they gave to the
gods whom they loved. They worshipped four.
One they called Mars ; he was a bold and valiant
knight ; to his honour they assigned the third day
(Marsdi) ; we call it Tuesday, according to their
practice." In similar style he treats of the months,
the signs of the zodiac, the festivals and fasts of
the Church.

The third treatise is by the same author, and is
called " The Bestiary, or Book of Beasts," and is
probably founded on some Latin treatises. The
writings of Philip de Thaun belonged to a period
of our history when Anglo-Norman was the common
language among respectable classes of society. The
author commences with an allusion to the Queen
of England. "Philip de Thaun into the French
language has translated ' The Bestiary ' a book
of science for the honour of a jewel, who is a very
handsome woman: Alice she is named, a Queen
she is crowned. Queen she is of England ; may her
soul never have trouble! In Hebrew, iu truth,
Alice means praise of God. I will compose a
book ; may God be its commencement. What is in
Greek \ leiai, has iu French the name of klz/g.
The lion in many ways rules over many beasts;
therefore is the lion king. Now, you shall hear
how. He has a frightful face, the neck great and
hairy ; he has the breast before square, hardy, and
pugnacious ; his shape behind is slender, his tail of
large fashion, and he has flat legs, and haired down to

the feet : he has the feet large and cloven, the claws
long and curved. When he is hungry or ill-disposed
he devours animals without discrimination, as he
does the ass, which resists and brays. Now, hear,
without doubt, the signitlcatiou of this."

A naturalist of the present day would probably be
satisfied with giving a specific description of the
animal he was treating upon; or, if he aimed at
writing a popular book,would give some of its habits ;
but our author does not let his readers off quite so
easily. He was evidently no materialist, for he finds
a spiritual significance in all the animals he describes.
The lion, he says, signifies the Son of Mary. " He
is king of all people, without any gainsay. He is
powerful by nature over every creature, and fierce
iu appearance ; and with fierce look he will appear
to the Jews when he shall judge them, because
they made themselves guilty when they hanged
him on the cross, and therefore they have merited
to have no king over them. The square breast
shows strength of the Deity. The shape which he
has behind, of very slender make, shows humanity,
which he had with the Deity. By the tail is indi-
cated justice, whicli is placed over us. By the leg,
which is flat, he shows that God was constrained,
and it was convenable that he should give himself
up for us. By the foot, which is cloven, is demon-
strance of God, who will clasp the world, and will
hold it m his fist. By the claws is meant ven-
geance upon the Jews. By the ass we understand
the Jews very rightly ; the ass is foolish by nature,
as the Scriptures say ; he will turn from his way, if
one does not drag him entirely to it. Just such a
nature the Jews have, who are fools ; they will
never believe in God unless they do it by force ;
they will never be converted unless God have mercy
upon them."

(I suspect the Society for the Propagation of
Christianity among the Jews have not understood
this important fact, and consequently they are not
so successful as our author would have been if such
a society had existed iu his day, and he had been a
member of it.)

Our naturalist proceeds to describe an animal
which, by some unaccountable oversight, is not
mentioned by Buffou, Cuvier, or Owen. He says :
"Monoceros is a beast which has one horn on his
head ; therefore it is so named. It has the form of
a goat. It is caught by means of a virgin. When
a man intends to take and ensnare it, he goes to a
forest where is its repair. There he places a virgin
with her breasts uncovered, and by its smell the
Monoceros perceives it. Then it comes to the
virgin and kisses her breast, falls asleep on her lap,
and so comes to its death. The man arrives imme-
diately and kills it iu its sleep, or takes it aUve and
does as he likes with it. It signifies much. I will
not need to tell you Monoceros is Greek : it means
cue horn, A beast of such description signifies

B 2

HARUWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

Jesus Christ ; one God he is aud shall be, and was
aud will coutinue so. He placed himself in the
virgin, and took ilesh for man's sake ; aud for vir-
ginity to show chastity ; to a virgin he appeared,
aud a virgin conceived him ; a virgin she is, and
will be, and rem;\in always."

Fig. I . Seal of Margaret, Queen of Scotland, on a letter to
her brother, Henry the Eighth, dated April 11, 1513. (Cot-
tonian Library.)

I will not try your patience any further with the
signification of the various animals our author de-
scribes. I would, however, call your attention to
one or two forms not known to modern naturalists.

" Thus saith Solomon of the ant riglitly, and of
the idle man who waits for fine weather : ' Be not
slothful; look at the ant.'

"This say writings— that the ant has three natures.
It has such a nature wlien it issues from its hole
orderly in the moruing right on its way, and when
it has found grain of all sorts of corn it knows well
which is wheat by the smell alone ; it does not care
for grain of barley, but if it is a grain of wheat it
takes it in with its mouth, carries it to its nest, and
is supported in the winter.

"Also, Isidore speaks of another ant. In Ethiopia
there is a river, there the grain of gold is produced
in it, which they collect with tlieir feet, and defend
it from the people. People dare not approach them
to take or touch it. Wiiom the ants bite, they die
immediately ; no one dares approach these ; the
ants are so fierce if any one will have some of that
gold to make his treasure of. By a stratagem
tli^y contrive, they have great plenty of tlie gold.
They keep without food mares which have newly
colted. Then on the third day, as you will find, a
little basket on the backs of the mares : they bind
it firmly. They make them pass the river to bring
gold, and draw them to a meadow which has plenty
of grass. The ants nre thci'c where the mares go.
They make their cells in the basket, and load the

mares. Wiieu they are satisfied, charged, and filled,
they repair back behind them. They run to the
colts, where they are neighing, which the men have
attached by the river. Thus, truly, that people get
gold. There is also a beast which is master of the
ant. It is the forniicaleon. It is the lion of ants ;
whence it is thus named. It is a very little beast.
It puts itself in the du:jt where the ant goes, and
does it great outrage. But of this matter I will
no more discourse, because I will now begin to treat
of another."

Time will not allow of further examples of this
singular composition ; but a short account of the
remainder of the treatise may be of interest. Many
of the forms are fabulous. Thus he speaks of an
animarcalled Osida : " It has two feet of a camel aud
two wings of a bird (perhaps an ostrich). And of a
Siren, that is, like a woman to the waist, with the
feet of a falcon, and the tail of a fish."

Among the birds described is of course aPha?nix.
After treating of birds he says : " Now ends this dis-
course, and we will speak of stones." The following
is a specimen of his mineralogical knowledge.

" There are twelve stones in this world which have
great signification, which I will not omit briefly to
tell you.

" Red Jasper shows love, open, weakness, sweet-
ness.

"Sapphire shows faith in God.

" Chalcedony shows that we shall be neighbours
with God.

" Sniaragdus shows faith which the Christian has
in him.

"Sardonyx shows chastity and humility.

" Sardius shows sorrow which the saints had on
earth for God's love.

" Chrijsolife, the celestial happiness which they had
with the terrestrial life."

And so on with the beryl, topaz, chrysoprassus,
jacinth, and amethyst. He also speaks of the Unio,
or pearl, as a stone, and says that it represents eight
good things, — life, youth, holiness, love, repose, joy,
peace, light. "Unio will give that without end. May
Saint Mary give us these eight gifts of life, and may
God give his majesty to her, for whom this book is
made ; and may all those Mdio will pray for that
and say a Paternoster for it, have the merit of
Saint John ; may they be in the bosom of holy
Abraham. Unio is the Father and Son ; Unio is
the Holy Ghost ; Unio is beginning ; Unio is end ;
Unio is Alpha and Omega. Benedicamus Domino.

" 1 have shown of three kinds of beasts, of birds,
and of stones, that of each of these there is a king,
which shows that God is king; in person he is
trinity, and one only in divinity. May this God be
our aid, and the Virgin Saint Mary. May this God
give ns true sense and life everlasting. Amen."

With these pious ejaculations the learned na-
turalist concludes his treatise, and 'although his

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

ig-iiorance may now elicit a smile of pity, what can
be said of the knowledge of natural history at the
present time, when the Mark Lane Express for Sep-
tember 4th has the following paragraph in answer
to a correspondent who inquires how he can rid his
fields of charlock. They are unable to give him the
required information, but propound a theory that
botanists will be surpi'ised to hear : —

"We do not think they come from seed, but
is («'(?) the result of some electrical action producing
them spontaneously. The charlock is an unwel-
come visitor, but its removal in corn crops is often
worse than the evi! itself. Let both grow together
until the time of harvest. Tiie seed has more value
than some suppose, and when crushed will be found
a good tonic. Nothing is given to us in vain."

One scarcely knows which to admire most, his
bold contempt of Liudley Murray or his botanical
knowledge. You will also observe that in the com-
mencement of the precious paragraph he does not
think they come from seed, :ind liicu a few lines fur-
ther on he says " the crushed seeds are a valuable
tonic." If such a lamentable amount of ignorance is
displayed by those whose province it is to educate,
who is to teach the teachers ?

The above extracts are taken from one of the
volumes published by the Historical Society of
Science. The Anglo-Saxon treatise occupies about
twelve, the treatises of Philip de Thaun above
a hundred pages of royal octavo.

AN AURORA BY DAYLIGHT.

A SHORT time since, in a contemporary,* a
discussion took place on daylight aurorse, a
few observers stating that they had seen such a
phenomenon, while at least one correspondent tried
to prove such a display was an impossibility. Since
then I have anxiously watched for an opportunity
of judging for myself, and now can state that aurora
displays may be apparent in the daylight. The
facts observed will be given in detail, the hours
mentioned being Dublin time, taken from the watch
of the mail guard.

On October 6th, 7th, Stli, and 9i,h there were
slight frosts, the nights being clear and bright, with
brilliant displays of stars, and a rather sharp wind
from the north. On the morning of the 8th we
travelled from Galway to Clifden, our route lying
for more than half the way through the hills of
Varconnaught. When leaving the town of Galway,
at two o'clock A.M., there was a red glow over most of
the sky, being rather more intense to the northward,
while toward the southward it was imperceptible,
tills glow appearing and disappearing at intervals
of from fifteen to twenty minutes. These intermit-

* Nature.

tent lights continued till four o'clock, when a bright,
brilliant crimson band suddenly darted up from the
northern horizon through the North Star, extending
southward more than halfway across the heavens.
This band lasted only for a few moments, however.
Subsequently it graduated into space, and was
succeeded by a display of needle-shaped rays of red
light, that seemed to be falling every M'ay from the
zenith, but especially towards the N.W., N., and
N.E. This shower of rays, if it may be so called,
might be likened to a shower of red rain or blood,
the rays drifting away and gradually disappearing
in space, similarly to a passing shower, as any one
who is accustomed to a mountainous country
must often have observed. Subsequently very
similar displays, but of greater or less intensity,
succeeded one another at intervals of from about
live to ten minutes, till seven minutes to five
o'clock, when the first streak of daylight was appa-
rent on the eastern horizon. After the dawn of
day, and from that to six o'clock, the aurora was
still visible. The colour, however, of the rays
changed, first to purple, and afterwards, as the
daylight grew stronger, to a neutral tint ; but the
play of the rays was similar to those of a red colour,
except that the intervals of time between each
appearance became longer and longer. Further-
more, the rays, instead of brightening up the sky,
as they did during the night, now cast a shadow
over it. When the daylight had become strong,
and all the stars but a few of the larger ones had
disappeared, all defined colour seemed to have
departed from the aurora rays, they then being-
more like a fleeting, dusky, thin cloud, or a dii^tant
passing shower of rain. Nevertheless, that such
appearances were due to the aurora was evident, as
they radiated from the northern horizon, besides
coining and going similarly to the previously
described red lights.

At six o'clock the day had well dawned ; scarcely
a star could be detected, while the distant moun-
tains, hills, fields, cattle, and houses, were dis-
tinctly visible, and the aurora seemed to have
disappeared for good. Not so, however, for at
seventeen minutes past six there was a grand dis-
play ; eight double pencils of bright but pale yellow
light suddenly appearing, radiating from the edge
of a dark cloud that floated due north close to the
horizon, having an appearance similar to the rays
from a setting sun. These lasted for about three
minutes, and disappeared as suddenly as they had
come up. The daylight at this time apparently
was quite perfect ; however, it was not till eleven
minutes afterwards (twenty-eight minutes past six)
that the edge of the rising sun appeared above the
eastern horizon.

From the above facts it seems apparent that an
aurora display during daylight may occur, but that
such a phenomenon is easily overlooked, as the

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

Fig-. 2. Daylight Aurora.

rays that appear as lights in llic niglit-time are less
intense than sunlight ; consequently, during day-
light they generally will appear as dark instead of
hright streaks, and may easily be mistaken for a
distant shower or light fleecy cloud. Of the latter
I am now quite positive, as very frequently on a
bright frosty morning I have been surprised to see
what then was supposed by me to be a distant
shower, but now is known to have been a morning
aurora. G. H. Kinahan.

THE STORY OF A GRAVEL-PIT.
By J. E. Taylor, P.G.S., etc.

I AM the last of my race. My brother story-
tellers have had their day, and ceased to be.
Had you questioned me a few years ago, I should
have been like Canning's Knife grinder, and had
nothing to tell. Even now my story is not complete.
New editions are constantly coming out, although
tlicir general truth remains unaltered.

Who among my listeners has not played, when a
child, in a sand- or gravel-pit ? You have them in
abundance, scattered over the surface of the country.
But there are gravel-pits and gravel-pits — a differ-
ence without a popular distinction.

Those I particularly represent are always situated
on the banks of some river- valley. Hence their other
geological names of " Valley-gravels " and " River-
gravels." Frequently they form terraces flanking
the present course of the rivers, and you may iden-
tify two of these terraces,— a low-lying one and a
higher. If you could strip off these banks of gravel,
you would find the bare rock beneath, or else some
thick slieet of boulder clay, which had been scooped

out to make the present river-valley. Banked up
against these old denuded surfaces are the gravels,
whose excavations are so well known as pits. I am
one of them, and I propose to tell you my story, as
well as I can recollect it. Although I can hardly
define the difference between the gravels to which
I belong and those which belong to the Glacial
series, generally the Middle Drift, yet the practised
ej'e readily learns to detect that there is a difference.
The pebbles composing our beds are well rounded,
showing they have undergone a tremendous deal of
wear-and-tear. They are composed of different
kinds of rock, just as you would expect when j'ou
know they have been washed out 'of the boulder
clays, or brought down by the river in its passage
over the outcrops of successive beds. The flint
pebbles have generally an oily look about them, and
all the pebbles are red and ochreous. Their position
along the river-valley, however, is always the best
test. Some of these valley-gravels are very thick,
whilst others extend as mere banks of local distri-
bution. All of them, however, indicate some degree
of antiquity, inasmuch as you will find ancient trees
growing on the most recent of these teiTaces, and,
here and there, old ruins which stand upon them.
In fact, the gravel-pits indicate a gradual rise in
the land for them to occupy their present heights
above the river-level. The gravels were originally
brought down by the ancestor of the present river>
when it was broader and perhaps more turbulent,
at the close of the Glacial epoch, when the climaturc
was more severe than it now is, and the quantity of
rain and snow which annually fell much greater, so
that the river-valley was subjected to great floods,
which brought down the materials of which we are
composed.

11 A 11 D W I C K E' S S C IE N C E- G O S S I P.

As the laud gradually rose, and tlie cliinate be-
came more geuial, and toucd dowu to its present
mildaess, the waters of the river shrank in volume,
until only the present channel was occupied. But
the heights to which we river-gravels rise above
the water not only indicate how old we are, but,
in some cases, go back as far as the commenee-
ment of the original scooping-out of the valley
itself.

All this would be very interesting in itself, as
geological action connecting the most recent of the
great physical changes with those we see in opera-
tion around us. But the interest of these valley-
gravels is still more enhanced when my listeners
understand that it is in th.emt[ia.tth.ejirsi evidences
of Man^ s appearance on the earth are met with! All
my brother story-tellers have had their say, and
many of them have described the commonest of the
animals and plants of their day; but not one of
them mentioned that mankind was living at the
time. It was reserved for so humble and common-
place an object as a Gravel-pit to unfold the most
important of all geological discoveries. Men have
speculated as to their original ancestors living as
far back as the Miocene period, but they have
adduced no facts in support. On the contrary, I
yield nothing but facts, and those in great abundance.
In the gravel-pits you meet with the chipped flint
implements, of which you have doubtless already
heard. They are imbedded, as stones, along with
the other material, having been brought down by
the ancient river in the same way as pebbles.

But they are undoubtedly of human workmanship.
This cannot be gainsaid. You see this at once by
the flints having been carefully, and in many cases
nrtisticalUj, chipped dowu to a cutting edge all round.
They are generally spearhead-shaped, and about
six to nine inches long. Had they not been con-
nected with the question of the antiquity of Man,
you would never have heard a word said about their
not being of human manufacture. As it is, iu order
to steer clear of this disagreeable truth, many have
invented all kinds of ingenious hypotheses to account
for the flints getting chipped iu this regular fashion.
But it requires far more faith to believe in these
theories than it does in the other common-sense
inference.

The most damaging fact to them is the identity in
pattern of these cut and chipped flints, wherever
they may be met with. Another important incident
is this — the chipped flints are only found in the
valley-gravels, or in deposits of the same age. If
they have been chipped by accident, there is no
reason in the world why they should not be found
in gravel- pits of much older date.

Prom the time when primitive Man used these
flint weapons for almost every purpose, slaying wild
animals with them, cutting dowu trees and scooping
them out for canoes, making holes in the ice with

them for fishing purposes— since tl;cuyou can trace
the whole history of ofl'ensive and defensive weapons.
Antiquaries and geologists call these most ancient
of implements PalaoUthlc, — meaning, in Greek, that
they are the oldest known ; and the age in whicli
they were produced consequently is known by the
same name. When Man first appeared, if we are
to reason by the remains with which we find these
implements associated, the Yroolly-haired Elephant,
or Mammoth, and the Woolly-haired Rhinoceros,
were both natives of Great Britain. It is frequently
objected that you do not find the liones of man
associated with these tools ; but the reason is not
difficult to find.

Eemember how few of the bones, &c. of the ancient
Romans and Saxons are met with, in proportion
to the number of more enduring ornaments, coins,
&c. they left behind them. Then consider that
the valley-gravels lie in the line of greatest drainage
toward the river, and, as they arc porous, the sur-
face water percolates through them on its way to
the lowest level. Any particle of carbonate of lime,
whether in the form of bone or not, which w;is
deposited in these gravels, would thus be dissolved
away. Hence it is that, although the huge bones
of elephants, &c., were undoubtedly buried up in the
same gravels, vrc find few or no traces of them.
The comm.oncst of their remains are tectli and^wsfe,
whose dentine and ivory structure saved them from
the gradual destruction to which the frailer parts of
the skeleton vrere liable.

Eortuuately, there were other agencies at work
during the same period, which v.-ere conservative
rather than destructive. In the fissures of lime-
stone rocks, where water is percolating, that water
is usually charged with carbonate of lime. Every
drop of water that evaporates on the surface of the
walls of a chasm or natural hollow leaves its con-
tained particle of lime behind. This process is
always going on, until there has been left on the
walls a great fold or layer of what \% a \Vit^. stalactite.
The water drips on the floor, and there a portion is
evaporated, the lime being left behind.

As you may guess, the process is marvellously
slow, but the layer thus formed on the floor is called
stalufjiiiite. It is not difficult to see that anything
lying on such a cavern-floor would be iucrusted over,
and eventually covered up. This is what I call a
conservative process. Now at the time the valley-
gra.vels were forming, savage man was glad to avail
himself of any shelter, and the natural caves and
hollows of the earth were anxiously sought after, as
they are now by the lowest tribes of mankind else-
where. To such places as Kent's Cavern, Brixham
Cavern, &c., savagea resorted, bringing with them
the fruits of the chase. Here you may find the
bones of animals which had been split open in order
to extract the marrow, as well as [the flint knives
and implements, of exactly the same kind as those

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE - GO S S IP.

found in a gravel-pit. Over these there has accumu-
lated a layer of stalagmite many feet in thickness 5
thus carrying you oack in lime as far as does the
deposition and origin of the valley-gravels them-
bclves !

You see, therefore, that the two most accessible
groups of facts both point to the same great fact of
the antiquity of iVJan. Succeeding the Palfcolithic
age is that provisionally known as the " Rein-deer
period," on account of the large number of the
remains of that northern auimal which have been
found in the bone-caves of the south of Erauce.
England and the Conlineut were then subjected to
the periodical migrations of Arctic animals, among
which were the Keiu-deer, Lenmiing, Glutton, Elk,
&c. The Hint implements found associated with,
the remains of ihese animals in the south of Erance
exhibit a superior i^kill, indicating that man's nature
was to progress, even at that early stage.

llude attempts at carcuig and drawing were also
indulged iu, as examples in your principal museums
wiil attest. Thau succeeded the next stage, known
as Neolithic, or " JS'ewcr Stone age," whicli is dis-
tinguished by the greater variety iu shape of the
flint implements, and, more particularly, by the fact
that they are, for the most part, ground smooth and
to a sharp, knife-like cutting edge. These weapons,
however, are usually found strewn on the surface,
or imbedded only in peat - bogs and the most
recent of river-deposits. AYhcreas the Vuhcolithic
types are iimittd to valley-gravels and the most
ancient of bone-caves, the Neolithic show, by their
universal distribution and superior workman-
ship, that they belong to an advanced period. All
the savage races still using stone weapons are
generally islanders, cut off from the great centres,
so that they are "outliers" of a system once
universal. This later period is that of the " Lake
Dwellings," which link on to that known to anti-
quaries as the " Bronze period." To this succeeds
the Iron age, and, if you like, the present, or
"Steel" age. The two former are historical, and
come within the range, not only of scieutihc deduc-
tion, hut also of written history. I have simply men-
tioned them to show how, from the time when the
most ancient and rude of the flint implements were
deposited in the river-gravels, there is more or less
of an unbroken sequence. Archajology commences
where geology leaves olf— the past and the present
meet on common ground. Standing on this neutral
area, you may gaze backward into the illimitable
ages which l;avc gone by, and see the gradual
ascension in animal life, which began in the dim
and distant Laurent ian epoch in the animalcule,
and has terminated in Man. Looking forward from
the same vantage-ground, you may hopefully note
the development of society, the growth of civiliza-
tion, and probability of the unfolding of the social
and moral attributes of man as n.arvcUously as the

lower animal life has culminated in its existing
apex ! Throughout, in the buried past, as well as
in the yet unfolded future, you never lose sight of
the operations of an Almighty Spirit — ever working,
never resting ! — out of chaos bringing forth order,
— out of simple protoplasmic material educing the
animal and vegetable kingdoms, in all their multi-
tudinous types and varieties, until a small area like
the superficies of this planet has teemed with life
sufiicient to stock a million existing worlds! One
generation has passed away, but, in doing so, has
furnished a basis on which the new comer may
ascend to a higher physiological platform. Every
form, animal and vegetable, has been but the ex-
pression of Divine Love, communicating to them
the excess of its own joyous life ! Every species
has been an outwardly crystallized Divine idea.
Spirit has clothed itself with matter, until in Man
the past and the future have met: the ancient
Greek fable has been more than realized, for it has
been true spiritual fire from heaven— given, not
stolen — which has been instilled into fleshly clay 1

My slory is now ended, and, with mine, the series,
whos3 purpose hiis been to give as plain an outline
of the biography of our old world as possible. It
will have been seen that a story may be properly
read olF, even from so common and ordinary an
object as a Gravel-pit. In geology, more than any
other scienca, he that humbleth himself shall bo
exalted ! All its objects lie at your feet, and arc of
the lowliest kind. Not a pebble you accidentally
kick before you, not a handful of dust blown by the
wind into gutters, not a spadeful of soil turned
over, but each is fi-aught with teaching of the
utmost value and of the intensest interest. It is by
recognizing a Cause that you alone can unlock the
secret; setting out with the full belief that every-
thing exists by virtue of a right— has resulted, i-.ot
from accident, but law, — until you arrive at the
highest conception of which man is capable,— that
the total of these various laws meet and concen-
trate into one focus, and find their expression in a
personal and Almighty God!

"The land bird is bound to its home by power-
ful bonds, which, for the most part, are invisible to
our dull vision ; with some species these limits m:iy
perhaps embrace an area less than the hundredth
part of a mile."— "i)'/rt/ Life;' hj Dr. Brehm.

"TuE South, by destroying its trees, has dried up
its springs. It has abandoned the mouutaius to
ruin, and its plains to a couple of ."scourges— the
wind and the flood. The North and Central Erance
bid fair ere long to lose their fuel. Before the
Ilevolutiou, iu 17G0, Erance had thirty millions of
hectares in forest— to-dny she has loss than eight
millions."—" Nature" by Madame Michelet.

HAilDWiCKE'S SCIEKCE-GOSSIP.

THE SMALL EGGaR-MOTH.

TT seems advisable to say a few words upon a
-^ correspondence which has been going on for
some time on the larva and pupa states of Erio-
gaster Icuiestris (the small Eggar-moth). Several
writers complain that they cannot obtain pupfe, and
that the larvae die when fall-fed. I think that this
must be owing to a want of attention to one or two
peculiarities in their habits. One is well known.
As soon as they emerge from the e^g, they go to
work and mutually construct a silken tent round
the twig upon which the eggs have been laid. This
habitation is added to as the larva; grow, and into
it they retire when not engaged in feeding. A
second habit is not so well known,— that of basking
in the sunshine upon the outside of this web. Now
if, when the larva? are collected, their nest is not
also taken and carefully kept in contact with their
food, they will hardly ever do well; neither do they
like to be deprived of sunshine.

Some years ago I brought home a large nest of
young larvse, stood the branch in a jar in an un-
occupied room, put fresh branches of blackthorn or
whitethorn into other water-jars close by, arranging
that the bushes should touch each other, and sup-
plied fresh branches every two or three days, as
they withered or were stripped. Li this way the
larvse fed well and enlarged their nest to an
immense extent as they grew, and it was curious to
see them when, at a certain hour in the day, the
sun shone upon the nest, crowding upon the out-
side of it, squeezing in between each other like pigs,
and lying so close together that a pin could hardly
be put between them without touching. I think,
however, that they did not get enough sun; for
although many spun up in reasonable time, others
continued feeding till quite late in the summer,
and as, on arriving at full size and assuming their
handsome skins, they had become erratic, and re-
quired to be kept at home with gauze bags, my
patience got exhausted, and having a hundred or
two of pupse, I turned the rest out. About this
matter of the long duration of the pupa state : it
really is nothing new. It was noticed in " West-
wood and Humphrey's British Moths " more than
thirty years ago, and most likely long before, but I
have not books at hand. 1 did not expect my
moths out the next spring; but one specimen ap-
peared, and with proper treatment, I feel sure that
many more would have come out. The second
spring 1 thought of the advice of a writer in the
E/domoloffiai's Weekli/ IiitelUgencer, years ago,
<nud brought down my pupa; one mild day in the
middle of February, and put them on to the mantel-
piece.

They acknowledged the attention at once, and
emerged by dozens. The next year I did the same,
and some more came out; but since that only a

stray specimen or two have appeared, and 1 have
now been breaking open the sound cocoons, and
find that great numbers of the moths have perished
in the pupa when fully formed and coloured; and
this I have no doubt occurred in the first spring,
when they had not suflicicnt M'armth to enable them
to burst the pupal envelope.

There is another point — the curious double co-
coons, from which nothing ever emerges. These
are not divided inside, but are formed by two larva;
uniting their ell'orts, and producing a broad cocoou
the size of the ichole material of two single ones.
Thus, two sides being saved, it is larger than the
two single ones would be.

Could anybody expect anything to emerge fron\
this ? In the first place, a larva, when assuming
the pupa state, requires the most perfect liberty
from interference or annoyance. How, then, could
either of two larvse, wriggling off their skins in the
same cocoon, be expected to succeed? The only
chance would be by one dying in the larva state.
But then the survivor would have too much room,
— would have, in fact, no " purchase " anywhere by
which to burst open the lid of tlie cocoon.

Fortunately an example occurred among my lot ;
and I found, on o;;euing it, that one larva shrivelltd
up without attempting to cast its skin, that the
other changed, and in due time the moth emerged
from the pupa skin, but never left the cocoon. I
found it crumpled up and dead, of course. To this
large cocoou three others were slightly attached :
from one the moth emerged, and in the other two
they died when ready to emerge from the pupa.

C. G. Bareett.

NEW SPECIES OF ROTATOllIA.

By F. Collins, M.D.

PREVIOUS lo 1S67, while residing in the parish
-'- of Sandhurst, Berkshire, it was my fortune to
meet with several uudescribed species of Rotifers.
Presuming that some of the readers of Science-
Gossip may be interested in that very attractive
group of animalcules, I have forwarded for their
perusal the following copy of my rough notes,
written five years ago, during the time I was em-
ploying some of my leisure hours in studying these
very beautiful and interesting creatures.

Melicerta social is. — Tube irregular in shape,
built of large yellowish-brown, granular, egg-shaped
pellets, which are heaped up into the form of a
tube, without any regard to symmetry. The rota-
tory disc is divided into two lobes, the anterior
division being, as is generally the case, much deeper
and more marked than the posterior or dorsal divi-
sion. The eyes are cervical, two in number, and of
a pale rose-colour. The maxillary bulb is placed
high up in the neck. The two hooks seen iij

10

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE- GOSSIP.

Melicerta ringens are absent ; but there are two
tentacles armed .with setse, and attached in the
usual manner. The pellet with which the animal
builds its tube is formed in a kind of sac, situated

ng. 3. Melicerta socialis
(dorsal view).

-^z-T^rrr^

Fig. 4. Ditto, when out of
its tube.
a, Pellet, b, Cloaca.
c. Egg and ovary.

Fig. 5. Floscuhiria trilohuiii.
a. Cloaca, with long canal
leading from {!>) ovary, &c.
c. Position of tlie jaws.

Fig. 6.

«, FIdhcuH just liatched.

h, ditto, thirteen hours after.

at the lower extremity of the abdomen, below the
intestines and ovary ; it is discharged through the
cloaca, the creature raising itself, before expelling
it, so as to bring the cloaca to a level with the rim

of the tube. The Ggg is
deposited in the tube,
and remains there until
the young is hatched.
Length of the adult,
about „5_ of an inch.
Found in shallow ponds,
usually attached to moss.
Named Socialis because
groups of four or five are
often found attached to
the same leaflet.

fi

its name), somewhat similar in appearance to those
of Floscularia campanulata. The dorsal lobe is
frequently much larger than the other two ; and
when such is the case, it is commonly curved for-
wards over the funnel-shaped mouth, and presents
a somewhat hooded appearance. The setse are not
only much shorter than in other floscules, but they
are also differently arranged, being placed between
the lobes as well as on their summits, forming a
kind of unbroken fringe along the entire margin of
the disc ; the interlobular setae are, however, much
shorter and finer than those on the summits of the
lobes. Two cervical eyes are present only in the
young. Vibratile cilia are seen distinctly along
the course of the pharynx, as far as the maxillary
apparatus, which latter organ, occupying the same
position as in other floscules, is armed with three
pairs of teeth. The ovary is large. The egg, when
expelled, remains attached. The cloaca is situated
unusually high in the body, and there is a long
canal leading from the intestine and ovary to it.
The foot is of great length, and much wrinkled.
This is the largest of the floscules ; its total length
is about the 4V of an inch. It is very rare, being
found iu only one small pool in the parish of Sand-
hurst during the years 186i, '65, and '66. It is
usually attached to moss.

Floscularia trilohata. — Tube generally absent ;
rotatory orga';i divided into three lobes (whence

Fig. 7. Floscularia edentutit.

Floscularia eclen/aia.— This is a doubtful species,,
and perhaps not a true floscnle, but more nearly
allied to that genus than to any other. It has no
tube. The disc or rotatory organ has a few fine seta;
attached to it ; it is irregular in form, and is not
divided into lobes. The creature has no maxillary
apparatus, nor has it any teeth. Its food passes
directly through the throat into a very capacious
stomach, where a variety of the lower fonus of life
(some of large size) may be seen undergoing the
process of digestion. The foot is short, but of
variable length; in one specimen a good deal
wrinkled. This form of rotifer is very rare ; I have
seen only two specimens. Each laid an egg while
under observation, which remained attached, but

HAilD\yiCKE'S SCIENCE. GOSSIP.

n

were boLli uufortuiiately lost before the'young oues
Avcre hatched. Leugih of the animal, about the aV
of au inch. Habitat, same as Floxcularia triluhata.
Notommuta caudata.—'Si-^Q single, cervical; head
somewhat rounded, conuectcd \^ith the body by a
long narrow neck. Attached to the head is a (one
only) short, singular, flexible, tube-like appendage
(tentacle ?), surmounted by setse.* The body, which

is somewhat elliptical,
is prolonged posteriorly
into a kind of tail, on the
dorsal surface of which
a rounded prominence
is observed, and from its
summit there proceeds
a small setigenous tube.

Fig. s.
n, Niitommata ciiudata,
b. Lateral view of ditto.

Fig:. 9.
n, Slephanups lousfta.
b. Lateral view of ditto.

not unlike, in appearance, the one attached to the
head. Beneath this so-called tail, but separated from
it by the cloaca, a long narrow foot, with two small
pointed toes, joins the body. The maxillary bulb is
placed high in the neck, and from it a long oesopha-
gus, with a kidney-shaped gland on each side of it,
leads to a large stomach. The ovary is large, and
contains from eight to twelve germinal vesicles.
When magnified up to 350 diameters, water vascu-
lar canals are distinctly seen. Total length, y^o
of an inch. Habitat, pools in the parish of Sand-
hurst.

Stephanops vnheta.—^^&s two, small, frontal;
anterior portion of the lorica is expanded into a
kind of hood, as in Stephanops mittiats, but much
smaller in proportion to the size of the body. This
hood is remarkably clear and crystalline; and the
body, although the lorica presents a somewhat
tesselated appearance, is so transparent that it is
impossible to determine the internal structures.
T'he foot is about half the length of the body ; it is
i'oi-nished with three toes,— one, the dorsal, being
scarce half as long as the others. A long, tremu-
lous bristle— which is fixed into a kind of socket or
tube, situated in the centre of the back at about

* T coidd never ascertain the exact point to v^•hich this
appendage is attaclied.

the juncture of the anterior with the middle third
of the body — stands out diagonally, and, projecting
for some distance beyond the termination of the
foot, is kept, by the rapid movements of this rest-
less creature, in a constant state of vibration. Total
length, y^Q of an inch. Habitat, Sandhurst, Berk-
shire, iu same pools as the above.

MOSSES ABOUT LONDON.

T NOTICE that prizes are offered for the best
-^ collections of mosses and Hepaticaj to be mad:^
in the neighbourhood of London. Candidates for
these prizes may be glad to know v.here to go, £1k1
what to look for, iu the district with which 1 am
best acquainted.

On Reigate Heath (a swampy wood at its westera
end should be carefully examined), —
SpJiagHUid recurviim, rigid ion.

„ subsecumlum, cymbifoVum.
DicraneUa certiculata.
Hypnum conlifolivm, utramineum.
Bractiythecium albicans, rutabulum (var. robus-

tum).
PlcujiotheciMm den ticiilatum .
Jitngermamiia curcifolia, platyphylla.
Hypnum imponens was found here some time
ago.

At the foot of Buckland Hill.":—
Thuidium hystricosum.
Hypnum cJirysophylhim.

In the Mole, at the foot of Box Hill :—
Rhyncostegium rusciforme. \

On trees by the side of the Mole : —
Barbula mucronata.

On trees at the foot of the iiill : —
Cryphiea heteromalla.

On the ground, and at foot of trees in the
wood : —

Rhyncostegium tenellum, conferfum.
EuryHcJdum pumihm, crassinervium.
TJiamnium alopeeurum.

Higher up, on the slopes of the hill :—
Cylindrothecium concinmm .
Thuidium' abietimnn.
Bidymodon ruhellus.
Leptotrichum flexicaule.
Seligeria pusilla (on chalk).

On trees in the neighbourhood of Box Hill ai.d
Dorking : —

Orthotriclium Lyellii, leiocarpum.

In Gomshall Marsh : —
Mnium rostratum.
Webe-ra albicans.
PJiyscomitrium pyriforme.
Hypnum ctispidatum .

HARDWICKE'S SC I E N CE-GOSS IP.

Ou liedjje-banks near Tlieire : —
Euryiichmm Stcarzii.
Scleropodium illecebrum.

In the marsh on Kestou Comiion : —
Spluiguuiii molluscum and others.
Caiiipylopus torfaceus.

In a small pond ou Shirley Common :—
Bartraniia fontana.
llypnum aduncuni.

I have not explored any other metropolitan dis-
trict, and should be glad to know, for my own and
general information, if any interesting species have
been found elsewhere. T. Howse, F.L.S.

over every-day life. We feel that we ourselves are
writing for readers in Natural Science, many of
whom owe tlieir " conversion " to Mr. Wood. The
announcement, therefore, of a new work from his
pen cannot fail to interest the reading public, espe-
cially as it appears in the height of the " reading
season." The additional information that this work
is occupied with a subject which is the author's fa-
vourite study— Entomology— will raise expectation
still higher. " When Greek joins Greek, then comes
the tug of war." There is something in cutting
the leaves of a handsome volume like that before
us, embellished with upwards of seven hundred
figures, and occupying nearly seven hundred pages

Fig. 10. \. Gonepteryx libatrix. 2. Culucula nupta. 3. Rumia crata^gdta : a, Goni:}iteryx,\&v\-d ; i, liumia

crat^egata, larva.

"INSECTS AT HOME"*

Tj^EW writers have done more to popularize
-■- Natural History than the Rev. J. G. AVood.
He has the art of attracting readers towards a sub-
ect they perhaps never cared about before, solely
by showing them how earnest he is in its study
himself, and what a charm its pursuit can throw

• "Insects at Home; being a popular Account of British
Insects." By the Rev. J. G. Wood, F.L.S., &c. London :
Longmans, Green, & Co. 1872.

Iq its decsriptions of insects of every kind, from the
beetle to the common house-fly !

There are two ways of criticising a book of this
kind, — from a popular scientific aspect, and also
from a purely technical point of view. In adopting
the former, we unhesitatingly avow our belief that
"Insects at Home" will be a godsend to many a
young entomologist. The various groups of insects
have their anatomy illustrated, part by part, by
some familiar type, as the accompanying plates
(kindly lent us by the publishers) will best show : —

BARDWICKE'5 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

13

Fig. 12. Dragon-flies, &c.
1. Ephemera vulgata. 2. Ditto, larva. 3. Libellula depressa. 3 a. Ditto, emerging from pupa-case. 4. LiA«'^"'a.^lan-a.
b. Calopteryj Virgo. 6. Agriwi minium. 7. Phrygan-.a grandis. 8. Ditto, larva-cases, or " Cadilis-worms.

u

lIARDWiCKE'S SCI E Is CE-GOSSi P.

— ft

OV -

Fig. 11. l.ucanus cervus {(iiss&i'a.ovC).

Pa)-<« 0/ //if He«cf.—1. Mandibles, or jaws. 2. Anteniite. 2 a. Scape. 2 5. Club. .3. Labium, or lower lip. 3 a. Labia ra'pi,
or lip-feelers. 4. Maxillse, or lower jaws. 4 a. Maxillary palpi, or jaw-feelers. 5. Head, upper surface. 5 «. Eyes.

5 b. Vertex, or crown. 5 c. Occiput, or back of head. 5 d. Clypeus, or shield. 6. Head, under surface. 6 «. Eyes.

6 h. Insertion of antennae.

Paris of Thoriix and Abdomen.—' . Protnotum, or upper surface of thorax. 7 a. Lateral margin. 7 b. Anterior margin.

7 c. Posterior angles. 7 d. Posterior margin. 7 e. Anterior angles. 8. Prosternom, or under surface of thorax, n a.
Sternum. 8 6. Insertion of cos te. 9. Mesothorax and upper surface of abdomen. 9«. Mesothorax alone. 9/;. Abilonien,
upper surface alone. 10. Metastemum and Abdomen. 10 a. Metasternum alone. 10 6. Abdomen, under surface alone.
10 c. Parapleura, or side-pieces. 10 rf. Epistema, or breast-pieces. 12. ScuteUum.

Legs. — 11 . Anterior, or first pair of legs. 11 n. Tarsi, or feet. 1 1 A. Tibia, or shank. 1 1 c. Femur, or thigh. 11 rf. Trochanter.

lie. Coxae. 13. Intermediate pair of legs. 15. Posterior pair of legs.
The Wings. — 14. Elytra. 14a. Suture. 14 6. Lateral mai-gui. 14c. Apex. 14 rf. Base. Me. Disk. 16. Wings, folded on

abdomen. 17. Left wirg expanded. 18. Right wing folded.

A careful study of these organs, and an endeavour
to dissect specimens for himself in a similar way,
will be no unprofitable amusement these winter
nights for the young naturalist. The author sug-
gests another means of faaiiliariziug oneself with
the commonest insects, — that ol colouring the wood-
cuts and plates of the present volume, after the
natural tints and shades of the insects themselves.
Tor this purpose both plates and woodcuts have
been only faintly shaded ; a scheme, however, which
has already drawn down the wrath of some critics,
who have evidently not read the introduction to the

volume, in which this intention is set forth. Of the
woodcuts especially we cannot speai; too highly,
both for their artistic skill and zoological accuracy.
The full-page plates are weaker, and of the coloured
frontispiece the less said the better.

The whole-page plate is from the work, and is, we
think, one of the best of its kind. Mr. Fullager's
interesting notes, given elsewhere, ou the develop-
ment of the Dragon-fly from the pupa-case — as wit-
nessed by himself in his own aquarium — will innke
the details sufficiently clear.

" Insects at Home," as its name implies, treats

liAJRDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

15

at great lengtli upon the habits of the various ob-
lects it describes. This is done in that pleasant
style which marks all Mr. Wood's books, and
yet affords us sufficient evidence that the author lias
been a careful and diligent obseiTcr of the habits
he describes. We quote the following remarks on
the Aphides as an example of the general treat-
ment : —

"The Aphides form the food of very many in-
sects. The larvae of the Ladybirds feed entirely
upon them, and so do those of the Lace-wing flies.
They are also eaten by the larvoc of the swift and ac-
tive Syrphida. Several Hymenoptera provision their
nests with them, and others of the parasitic kind,
such as the Chalcidicaj, Proetotrupidse, Cynipida',
and Ichneumonidse. As to these last insects, the
way in which they operate on the aphis is very re-
markable. As may be inferred, from the size of the
aphides on which they are parasitic, they are of
very small dimensions ; and one of these tiny crea-
tures, when standing on the back of an aphis which
it is about to wound, looks much like a rook
perched on a sheep's back.

" When the fatal egg has been introduced under
the skin of the aphis, the wounded insect, like the
stricken hart, separates itself from its fellows, and
passes to the under side of a leaf, and there fixes
itself. Its body soon begins to swell, and at last
becomes quite globular and horny, the change being
caused by the death of t'le aphis and the rapid
growth of the parasite within it. The Ichneumon
passes rapidly through its changes, and in a short
time assumes the perfect form, always with its head
near the tail of its victim, pushes off the last two or
three segments of the dead aphis, and makes its
escape into the world. The dead and empty skins
of such hapless aphides may be found plentifully
towards the end of summer, sticking firmly to the
leaf, and showing the round aperture through which
the destroying parasite has crept. Sometimes there
is a sort of contest between the aphis and the Ich-
neumon-fly, the former, however, having no more
chance against its tiny foe than has a rabbit against
a weasel. If the aphis have its beak deeply plunged
into the bark, the Ichneumon-fly has an easy task,
for the aphis can do nothing but kick and struggle
while anchored to the spot by its proboscis, and all
the Ichneumon-fly has to do is to make its deadly
lunge. But if the aphis be wandering about the
plant, the Ichneumon-fly has to walk about with it,
and try first one side and then the other, until she
can find an opportunity of depositing her egg."

We give the following as a specimen of the
general character of the woodcuts.

In the figure of tiie caterpillar of the Brimstone-
moth the reader cannot fail to see an example of
what has been well termed mimicry ; for nothing
could better represent the fragment of a twig of
white-thorn than the stretched-out condition of the

caterpillar. The thorn-like prominences on its back
still further assist in the illusion.

In conclusion, we should add that there are some
valuable notes in the book to the young dissector
and entomologist, and hints respecting nomencla-
ture, arrangement of specimens, &c.

THE DRAGON-FLY.

TTAVING in July last procured from a pond in
^-^ the neighbourhood of Canterbury some pui a;
of the Dragon-fly, and carefully watched the full
development of the insect in my aquarium, I was so
delighted at the beautiful sight, that I have endea-
voured to give a descriptiou of it to the readers of
SciEXCE-GossiP. After witnessing the metamor-
phosis of three of them, I happened to read Ihe
account given in Science-Gossip by P. Pollock, of
his observations in Nov. ISGS (p. 245), and have
witnessed most of the things there described. He
remarks "that if the readers of Science-Gossip
eouldi be induced to watch, and be fortunate
enough to witness the change of the pupa into the
perfect Dragon-fly, they would be inclined to admit
that few sights in nature are more wonderful."

No one for the first time witnessing the metamor-
phosis would (without being previously informed)
for a moment think that the position of the insect
was the natural one. They would most likely come
to the conclusion I did, that it must fall and be
injured, or killed. Under that impression I placed
a sheet of paper beneath its head, to prevent such a
mishap ; but the moment the paper touched the
head, the insect showed, by a peculiar movement,
that it was annoyed, and endeavoured to avoid
coming into contact with it. I soon found that
the seemingly unnatural and helpless position was
the proper one.

It is amusing to observe the care the pupge ma-
nifest in getting into a position where nothing
can be in the way to obstruct their development.
One in particular came up out of the water, and
slowly climbed to the top of a reed I had placed in
it. To keep it perpendicular, I had inserted a piece
of wire about two inches from the top. This wire
was in its way, and its lowly retraced its steps
until it'arrived below it.'^ It then placed itself \a. the
usual position, and commenced lashing the body to
and fro, at the same time violently jerking it, evi-
dently to obtain a firm hold with its foot-cla\\-s on
the reed, preparative to the change about to take
place. When properly fixed, it became quite station-
ary for some time, and then a small opening became
perceptible in the middle of the upper part of the
thorax, and, gradually enlarging, the head of the fly
was drawn slowly out and thrown backward until
the head and thorax were clear of the pupa-case.
When it had reached this position it remained quiet.

16

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

^vith the exception of an alternate stretching and
contracting of its legs, as thougli trying their
strength before the next move.

When sufficiently strong to bear the wti-htof
the body, it gently turned itself backwards and laid
hold on the head of the pupa-case. As soon as it
was firmly fixed on if, the remainder of the abdo-
n;en dropped out of the case and hung outside it.
I!p to this time tlie wings had not begun to unfold;
but as soon as the body was fixed and lengthened,
theu commenced the unfolding of the wings, pre-
senting a very beautiful sight (especially if viewed
tlirough a pocket lens). The body was curved in
such a way that the wings should not come in con-
tact with it : at that time they were iu so soft a state
that to touch anything would injure their delicate

tissues.

The creature appeared fully aware of tbis, as shown
by its placing itself exactly in a position where none
of the surrounding objects could touch it. The
wings unfolded downwards, close together, quite
soft, but when sufficiently dry and hardened, tliey
gradually expanded, and showed by a quivering
motion that they were ready for flight. Their un-
folding perfectly took about twenty-five minutes.

I have had four pupa; come out of one aquarium
at different times, but up the same stem of the plant.
It is interesting to see each of them place itself iu
the same position as its predecessors, and go through
the movements, as though it had been the same in-
sect performing over again.

My attention was drawn to four white thread-like
filaments left attached to the empty and deserted
pupa-case, two of which are fixed on the middle of
the upper part of the thorax ; their length drawn
out of the corresponding part of the emerging insect.
The other two were fixed one on cacli side, about a
quarter of an inch farther down, below where the
wing-cases open from the thorax. On placing them
under the microscope, I found them to be tracheae,
and on further examining the empty case the trachea
could easily be traced down each side to the breath-
ing apparatus or spiracles at liie tail. As the per-
fect insect will breathe by other spiracles, differently
situated, this set of tracheae is rendered useless and
is withdrawn from the insect at its transformation.
The opening out of which they are drawn is closed,
so that they cannot be detected, as far as my ob-
servation went.

1 have one pupa living, and shall wateli it through
the winter, as it is not likely to come out, now it is
so late. I fed it at times with flies by placing them
on a fine wire and gently moving it before the pupa's
head. Tlie latter quickly threw out its curiously-
formed mask, seized ir, and conveyed it to its
mouth.

They are very voracious, and will feed on almost,
any aquatic insects ; as shrimps, beetles, small min-
nows, &c. I iiave sometimes given it a quantity of

the Baphuea Fidex, when a good opportunity was
aiforded to witness the repeated movements of the
mask, in catching and conveying them to its mouth,
when its formidable jaws soon dispatch them. The
jaws and mask make good subjects for the micro-
scope, with a low power,

Canterbunj. James Eullagee.

MICEOSCOPY.

Pekhaps some of your correspondents could
inform me whether the "test-scale" Poduracanuow
be anywhere found . Every microscopist is familiar
wi:h tlie common species of Tjepidocyrtns curvicollis,
which supplies scales of the same general character,
but by no means either so beautiful or so useful as
tests. My own experience would incline me to
think that the test-scale insect must be a distinct
species, and not a variety of Lepidocyrtus. 1 have
collected and examined great numbers of specimens
from localities widely distant ; but tbougb some of
these were passably clear in their markings, yet.
when compared witb the other in the microscope,
the dilfercuce was instantly evident. They differ,
iu fact, as much as either differs, e.g., from Tern-
plctoida. The professional preparers, I find, can
supply nothing except the commou kind. I have
heard it said, indeed, that the scale in question ma.y
be got from a bronze-coloured insect ; but this is
in direct contradiction to Mr. U. Beck's statement
in his work on the microscope, iu which he says
that his scale is got from an insect of a dark lead-
colour, and about -^ of au inch long (p. 145), Mr.
M'lntyre is, I presume, better informed on this
subject than any one. else; yet L have looked in
vain among his communications for an explicit
statement as to whether he has himself obtained
this scale. In one of his papers in the Monthly
3[i.croscopical Journal he tells us that LepUlocyrtus
cia-cicollls, if kept alive, will, as it grows old,
develop the " test scale," But this he qualifies by
adding the words, " at least I think so,"- a highly
important qualification, as it implies that, as a
matter of fact, he has not found it to be so himself.
Perhaps from his subsequent experience he could
now say whether it is so, or whether the species
is distinct, and can be found. Considering the
number of persons interested in the clothing of
these small deer, it certainly seems strange that
this information is so difficult to be had. And if
the species is distinct, and there was but one colony,
it was a curious coincidence that Mr. Beck, who
happened particularly to wish for them, should also
be the person to find them,— ^. L. B.

How TO OBTAIN DiATOMS IN A StATE OF

Pliuty,— The Jmerica/i Journal of Microscopy ve-

commends as the best plan " of collecting Diatoms

, in large quantities, to tic a thin fine piece of muslin

HARDAVICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

17

over the faucet of the hydrant in the evening-, and
allow a small stream of water to puss through it all
night. In the morning take off the muslin and rinse
in a little water." The above plan, if tiied in this
country, would probably supply some of the fresh-
water forms, as Asteiionella, Dluior.ut, Sijnedra, &c.,
in tolerable plenty ; but 1 fear the experimenter
would be liable to an action from the water com-
pany for waste !

"Woody Structuee eeplaced by Puue Silver.
— It is suggested that interesting metallic casts,
sliowiug the structure of wood, might be made by
taking advantage of the deflagration of nitrate of
silver on charcoal. When a crystal of nitrate of
silver is placed on a piece of burning charcoal, it
fuses and sinks into the pores of the wood ; and
as each atom of charcoal is replaced by one of silver,
the structure of the wood is preserved. The modus
operandi is thus described by Dr. Chandler :—" A
crystal of nitrate is placed on a piece of charcoal,
and a blowpipe flame directed upon the coal near
to the crystal, to start the reaction. When defla-
gration commences, crystal alter crystal may be
added ; the nitrate fuses and passes down through
the porous metal, already reduced, until it reaches
the burning coal, where it is reduced." Lumps of
silver, weighing an ounce or more, exhibiting the
rings of wood in a most beautiful manner, have been
thus prepared.

The ANniAL Nature oe the Spongiad^. —
Vix. H. Carter sends the following connnunieation
to SUlluutn's Journal, in which he says : " You
will be glad to learn that I have couflrmed all that
Prof. J. Clark, of Boston, has stated about the
tponge, and more too, confirmed by an examination
of a marine calcareous sponge, I have not only fed
the sponge with indigo, and examined all at the
same moment, but the sponge so fed was put into
spirit directly afterwards, and now shows all the
cells (mouociliated) witii the ciliiim attached, and
the indigo still in the cells."

Arborescent Silver.— The very beautiful slides
knowu to most microscopists under the above title
are very -easily produced, and as every preparation
almost invariably shows some striking variation,
some of the readers of Science-Gossip may be de-
sirous of knowing the modus operandi. A drop of a
very weak solution of nitrate of silver is placed on
the centre of a slide, a small piece of tl)e finest
copper wire is then laid in the middle of the drop ;
crystallization at once commences, and when it has
proceeded as far as the operator desires, the remain,
ing nitrates of silver and copper must be poured off :
this requires careful management. The best plan
is to breathe on the slide, and then gently tilt it on
one side : this causes the fluid to drain away from
the crystals. A little distilled water must then be
allowed to flow from the opposite side : this will

wash away the nitrate of copper, and the slide will
dry, and remain so, A small quantity of gum mixed
with the distilled water will retain the crystals in
their place (about three drops of the ordinary solu-
tion of gum in half an ounce of water is suflicient).
The slide may now be dried and mounted in an
asphalte cell. However, before doing so, itr is better
to remove the copper wire. This is best done by
gently pushing one end of it: this will detach the
crystals, and it can then be taken up by the aid of
a small pair of forceps. — F, K.

GEOLOGY.

At a recent meeting of the New York Lyceum of
Natural History, Professor A. M. Edwards showed
that the substance called "guano," used in the
manufacture of artificial manures, is not, as is
usually supposed, the accumulated droppings of
birds, but a mud formed by the accumulation of the
bodies of animals and plants, for the most part
minute, and belonging to the group which Haeckel
has collected into a new kingdom under the name
oi Protista. It was deposited along the ocean-floor,
and eventually upheaved to the elevations in which
its strata are now found. Subsequent changes so
altered it that the organic matter was transformed
to bitumen. The diatomaer fe, &c., found in guano
occur as they would present themselves if deposited
in water, and not as they would if they had passed
through the stomachs of fish and birds.

Ix the December number of the Geological Maga-
zine, Mr. AVilliam Carruthers, F.R.S. (of the Britisii
Museum), has figured and described two new
species of fossil coniferous fruits from the gault-
beds of Eolkstone. He states one species to be
allied to the existing IFellingtonia, and shows that
they point to the existence of a coniferous vegeta-
tion on the high lands of the Upper Cretaceous
period, which had a fades similar to that now
existing on the mountains on the west of North
America, between the tiiirtielh and fortieth paral-
lels of latitude. No fossil referable to Sequoia has
hitherto been foup.d in strata older than the Gault,
and here, on the first appearance of the genus, we
find it is associated with pines of the same group
that now flourish by its side in the New World.

Dr. Duncan, E.R.S., has recently shown that a
peculiar coral {Canjophyllia cylindracea), which has
hitherto been regarded as peculiar, in the fossil
condition, to the upper chalk strata, still lives in
the deep-sea regions of Havannah, and off the I beriau
peninsula. It belongs to the group possessing only
four cycles of septa in six systems.

A USEFUL ADDITION to our coal supplies has been
made by the discovery, at Halesowen, near Bir-
mingham, of a seam of coal fourteen feet thick-
This fact controverts the theories .hitherto held as

18

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

to the boundary of tlie coal-field in this directiou,
and of the impeudiug exbaustiou of the fuel-supply
of the "Black Couutry." The seam lies at the
depth of four hundred and twenty yards from the
surface.

EossiLS OF Arctic Circle.— In the report of
the lloyal Society, printed ia the Times of Decem-
ber 1st, mention is made of fossils recently brought
from Greeuland, whicli prove that the region within
the Arctic Circle once enjoyed a tropical climate.
Would any fellow-subscriber kindly give particu-
lars ?--&. P. F.

[The fossils referred to are of Miocene age, and
principally plant-remains. Some hundreds of spe-
cies have been brought to light from the Lignite
beds, and their general character indicates that
when they grew a warm climature prevailed in
Greenland. It is more than probable that, at this
time, no ice-cap existed at our North Pule. —
Ed. S.-G.]

ZOOLOGY.

Bats. — During the wa«n summer months it is
pleasant to watch these wonderful little creatures
seeking their food and sporting in tlie twilight ; but
who can tell where they hide themselves during the
day, and throughout the winter? Having been
mucli interested in some that came under my notice,
I forward the following particulars.

About the beginning of xlugust, in passing through
a .wood in this neighbourhood, 1 observed a poor
little bat fluttering on the ground, apparently unable
to rise. Supposing it to be a youug one injured in
its fall from a nest, or a more mature one dazzled
by the brightness of the sun, I carefully caught it,
•when, on examination, 1 found a number of large
brown ants fastened on to various parts of its body,
sucking ^the blood from even the wings and eyes.
Having been obliged to remove these with some force,
I carried the little sufferer home in my umbrella,
where he rode very comfortably suspended from the
ribs by his hinder claws. He did not long survive
his bleeding, being found dead next day.

On the night of the 19th of August my attention
was drawn to a noise like a number of mice squeak-
ing in my rainwater-butt, and on looking in I was
surprised to find about twenty bats, some drowned
in the water, some.struggling to get out, and others
clinging .to the sides of the cask. I took them all
out and laid them in the open air to dry themselves
and fly away if they could. Next day all the live
ones had disappeared, but I found there were some
in the shoot or stack-pipe, which is about tvi'O inches
in diameter, and conveys water from the roof to
the cask. I took it down to see if there was any
sort of nest iu the top of it, but could find none.
On shaking it over a large pan, no less than forty of

these little creatures fell out, many of them clinging
to each other. Some appeared to be older than
others, but all able to fly, and eat flies and sugar
from the hand. Their bodies were about two inches
in length, and their .wings about six inches when
extended, ears short, and teeth very sharp. There
were numerous fleas in the fur, but I did not ex-
mine them minutely. — G. M, 31.

The Magazitie of Natural History for Decem-
ber has a note of great interest to ornithologists.
Messrs. Sharp and Dresser describe two new species
of European birds. One of them {Picus Lilfordi)
is named after Lord Lilford, who shot it in Epirus.
It is distinguished from an allied species by its
crimson crown and barred rump. The other ncAV
species is from the British islands, and has been
named Parus britaiinictis, or "Coal Titmouse."
It differs from the continental examples by its
olive-buif back. These species have hitherto been
classed with others.

Insects ix Winter. — We might naturally sup-
pose that by the end of winter all those little birds
which are solely supported by insect food would
find some difficulty in providing for their wants,
having consumed, by their numbers and exertions,
nearly all that store of provision which had been
provided in the summer and deposited in safety ;
but 1 have found the stomachs of the Tree-creeper
and the small Titmouse, even iu February, quite
filled with parts of coleopterous insects, which, by
their activity and perseverance, they had been
enabled to procure beneath the mosses, on the
branches, and from the chinks iu the bark of trees,
where they had retired in autumn. Such plenty
being procurable after the supply of so many
months, renders it apparent that there is no actual
deficiency of food at any one period of the year.
The small slugs and some few insects may be con-
sumed by the severity of winter, but the larger
portion of them are so constituted as to derive no
injury from the inclemency of the season, but afford
during many months provender to other creatures,
multitudes yet remaining to continue their race and
animate the air when the warm days of spring shall
waken them to active life. — Journal of a Naturalist.

Work for Naturalists.— The oyster-dredging
at present carried on along our coasts affords
facilities for investigating our marine zoology at
moderate depths, which, I think, might be more
fully taken advantage of. Those who have never
spent a day with the oystermcn have little idea of
the almost inexhaustible supply of material which
would be highly prized by the microscopist and
student iu Natural History, that is thrown over-
board after every haul of the dredges. The great
objection to accompanying " the toilers in the
deep" is that their avocation is principally carried

HAilDWlCKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

19

on iu the winter uuder severe exposure. I had the
good fortune to be out with them on a fine day in
October, and found that even then, with a breeze
from the north-east, it was cold enough for one
accustomed to town-life. I was, however, amply-
repaid by a great store of marine forms, utterly
inaccessible to me by other means. iVuxious to have
further supplies from time to time, I arranged with
one of the boatmen, who readily consented to take
cliarge of my basket of bottles and jars at any time,
fill it with anything he might think of interest, and
return it to me. Imagine my delight at finding iu
my first instalment a gorgeous specimen of the
Bird's-foot starfish, Talmipes memhrcijiaceus, Retz.
Those who have never seen any but dried specimens
of this rare and beautiful echinoderm'can form but
a slight conception of its bright colouring when
alive, as mine was when I received it. A starfish,
which I take to be OplnocomaBallii, Thompson, was
among the lot, with Comatula rosacea. Link, Cri-
bella, and Solaster iu abundance. I had also a
great rarity in the crustaceans, Inachus leptocldriis.
Leach, probably dropped into one of my largest jars
by my weather-beaten friend on account of the
pearl-like tubercle on its thorax. In "Bell's
British Crustacea" this species is said to be ex-
tremely rare. I would be glad to know if any
Gossip has obsei'ved it, as I am inclined to believe,
owing to its being liable to become encrusted with
sponges, it has been overlooked. Good specimens
of Hyas araneus and H. coardatus, with otlier
commoner species, were obtained. Two or three
species of Nudibraucuiata, and a number of cou-
chiferous molluscs, which, with the polyzoa and
sponges, made up a formidable list. Should any
readers be tempted to try for themselves, I can
guarantee ample work for winter evenings.— ZT, S.,
Belfast,

BOTANY.

HELiciiHYStrM (Everlasting). — I grow a large
quantity of this useful flower for winter decoration
for myself and friends ; and as many inquiries have
been made as to the best method of treating it when
cut, I am able to afford your readers some assist-
ance. "Wishing this year not to lose even the un-
expanded buds, I gathered a quantity during the
first week of this month, some of which were
brought into the dining-room until otherwise dis-
posed of. Ou subsequently removing them, I
thought I perceived a partial separation of the
petals, and it occurred to me that this effect, if
really existing, must be due to the artificial tem-
perature of the room. I immediately tested the
matter by placing a number of buds before the fire,
and as a result obtained as many full-blown flowers.
Knowing, however, the tendency of the Helichry-
sum to close after it has been in bloom, I was not

satisfied with the experiment until I had ascertained
that a night's exposure in the coldest room of the
house failed to counteract the artificial treatment.
Here, then, is a simple method by means of which
a large stock of these elegant winter flowers may be
utilized — it is now, in most situations, too late in the
season to gather buds ; but many of your readers
may be in possession of some which were gathered
green, and are now dry,— all that is necessary
being to place them upon the fender before the fire ;
but iu the case of those which are fresh-gathered, it
is a better plan to suspend them, bud downward, by
a worsted thread kept twirling, for by this arrange-
ment the flower is at liberty to expand equally, and
the stalk dries straight and rigid. — Wia. Ttidor
Mablei/, Altrincham.

Bare Oxfordsiuue Plants. — There have re-
cently been comphxints in Science -Gossip that
compilers of local floras do not take sufiicient
trouble to ascertain if rare plants, limited to certain
localities, can still be found in those localities. A
similar statemeat may, to some extent, be made re-
specting our standard British Floras. For example,
I received in the spring a request from a corre-
spondent to gather Aruhis turrifa, which he said
grew plentifully at Oxford. Now in the Floras of
Bentham, Babington, and Hooker, this plant is
mentioned as growing there, without even a hint
that it may be extinct, or that it is more limited
there than Senecio squalidus, which is very abun-
dant. It was evidently from these standard
works that my correspondent had obtained his in-
formation. I had visited Oxford several times, but
had never seen the plant ; hence I determined to
make special inquiries. In Walker's "Flora of
Oxfordshire" it is stated to have been found on
Magdalen College walls, by Sibthorp and the Bev.
Mr. White, in 1S32 ; and the author informs us that
it formerly grew in the Old Quadrangle. I visited
the walls of the college this spring, but found no
trace of it. I saw the curator of the Botanic
Garden. He showed me a specimen cultivated in
the garden ; but he informed me that it had not been
seen on the college walls for a number of years,
having been overgrown by weeds. Last summer
I gathered Salvia pmtensls between Middleton
Stoney and Ardley, the locality given in Walker's
Flora; andjthis summer, after visiting several of
the localities mentioned in the same Flora for St achy s
germanica, I gathered it between Sturge's Castle
and Enslow Bridge. Can any of your readers inform
me \1 Thlaspi perfoliatum c?iXi still be found in the
neighbourhood of Witney and Barford, as recorded
by W^alker to have been met with by Sibthorp and
Hooker in 1818 ; or if Arabis turrita still grows at
Cambridge, in Kent, and at Cleish Castle, Kinross,
as stated in the Floras of Bentham and Babing-
ton ?— ^. French, Banhimj.

20

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE- GOSSIP.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Solar Spots and Spectrum.— As I have not the
necessary instruments, I shall be very much obliged
if any one who has will observe whether the pro-
I'ortiou of chemical to other rays in the solar
spectrum differs during the absence and presence
of the solar spots. — E. P. F.

Initial Letters. — Are your readers aware, Mr.
Editor, that letters addressed to any initials or
jiditlous names at any Post-office will not Ije deli-
vered to the parties intended, but opened and
returned to the writers? It would be well if this
regulation were known to those who offer exchanges ;
and would you request " D. D., Post-office, Bit-
terne, Southampton," in Science-Gossip of Septem-
ber last, to give some other address ? — B. IF.

The Pox-moth. — !Mr. Garfit's description, in the
December number of Sciknce-Gossip, of his finding
the larvse of the Pox-moth [Bombyx riibi) in such
luuubers on the east coast of Lincolnshire, reminds
me that when staying down in Galway, near
Al henry, some four or live years ago, I witnessed
a somewhat similar sceue. The ground iu that
neighbourhood is very stony, and covered with
heather and stunted furze -bushes. Upon these
latter 1 saw a multitude of caterpillars, of what
kind I knew not at the time. However, 1 have
iiuw no doubt, from Mr. Gascoyne's description,
ii:at they were those of the Pox-moth. — J. iS. W.
iJarhain,

Atropos. — Some time ago I had the good for-
tune to take nine larvai of this fine moth during a
week's visit in the country. I took as much care
of them as possible, in hope of rearing at least one
or two of them, but they all died in about three or
four mouths after turning to pupa;. Can any of
the readers of Science-Gossip inform me how to
keep them iu a healthy condition during the puja
state ?— ^. L.

Showers of Progs. — *' M. A. B." will be ex-
tremely obliged to any one who will freely and fully
explain how showers of frogs and fish are produced.
It they are not absorbed or drawn up into the clouds
by the intense heat of the suu's rays, before de-
scending to the earth in showers ? An answer iu
1 he next number of Science-Gossip will be eagerly
looked forward to.

PoLK-LORE: Mad Stones.— An extract from a
New York paper (on page 213 of September num-
ber), relating a reputed iinnmnity from the bite of
a mad dog, iu Pulaski, Tennessee, by the use of
what is termed a mud stone, is followed by an
expressed desire to know if there really exists iu
America a popular belief that certain stones possess
the power of averting hydrophobia from persons
bitten by rabid dogs. In reply, 1 would say that
there is such a belief among the credulous, and it
is quite wide-spread, it mostly prevails among
the unlearned and superstitious, but is not confined
to such. A very respectable lady in Kichmoud,
Va., has oue of these so-called mad stones, iu which
she has implicit faith ; and I have known a reput-
able physician in Illinois who fully believed in their
elficacy. There are no spcci;d localities where these
SI ones are found, nor is there anything very pecu-
li;ir in their appearance, nor have I ever heard of
an authentic fact on which to start or substantiate
i-ueh an apparently absurd belief. — Josiuh Curtis,
M.I)., Kno.vcil.le, Tennessee.

Geophilus electricus. — On September Slh,
whilst sugaring for noctua in a wood, I found a
curious centipede crawling on the damp ground ; it
was about lA inch long, pinkish, and had lots of
legs ; but the feature which attracted my attention
was a peculiar phosphorescent light, resembling
that of a glowworm {LahipTjris nociiluca), given out
from the whole of its body ; it also left a luminous
track behind it for several inches. When the bulls-
eye was turned on it, the creature " vamoosed," as
a Yankee would say ; and having a strange apathy
to this family of insects, it was allowed to escape.
1 find, in " Kirby and Spence," page 509, that it is
Geophilns electricus, but little is said beyond the
fact of its habitat usually being under clods of earth,
&c. Jf any subscriber can give me more informa-
tion concerning this remarkaiile insect, which is new
to myself and friends, I shall be much obliged. —
John Henderson, Reading.

White Varieties (p. 201, vol. 7, and elsewhere).
— It is not uncommon that white varieties occur
among flowers and also fruits in the United States.
These sometimes become hereditary, so to speak,
especially among some of the smaller fruits. During^
the past summer 1 have met with white varieties of
the blackberry {RiiLus villosus) iu Tennessee, North
Carolina, and Georgia; and I have been credibly
informed that the same occurs aii.ong low black-
berries or dewberries {R. canadensis). The bushes
and vines bearing these white berries quite uni-
formly, year after year, present every feature and
characteristic of the ordinary normal blackberry,
and seem identical in all respects, except iu pro-
ducing fruit which ripens without colour. It n;ay
be novel to some of jour readers, also, that a second
flowering not uidVequeutly occurs upon pear-trees,
apple-trees, cherry-trees, &c., in this country. This
takes place mostly iu the autumn, but this last year
I saw an apple-tree with fresh blossoms on it, on
the Nautahalah, in w^estern North Carolina, as early
as August 21. 1 have seen apple and pear-trees
in fresh bloom, in New England, iu October and
November ; and even now (October 25, 1871) Judge
Andrews, of this city (Knoxville, Tennessee), ha-s a
common pear-tree in recent bloom. Sometimes,
but rarely, we have a fair growth of fruit from
second blooming, especially in some of the smaller
fruits, i have known strawberries ripen iu Sep-
tember and October iu the Eastern States; and
here wc had two very respectable crops of straw-
berries the past summer,— one at the usual time,
early in May, and the second, from the same vines,
ripened during the latter days of July and the early
part of August. They were daily on sale in our
market, as they had been nearly three months pre-
viously.— Dr.Josiah (!urtis,Kno.Toille, Tennessee, U.H,

Sponge Spicules. — Yourcorrcspondent "C." calls
attention, iu the December number, to the spicules
oi Sponffilla Jl/fciat/l/s, and gives drawings of them.
He seems, however, to have made an erior, to which
I would call attention. The smaller, or birotulate,
form of spicule is that of the ovary of Sjwngilla
jlumutilis ; but the other form, "pointed at each
end, and rough on the surface," never occurs in this
sponge. It docs, however, in Spongilla luc/rstris,
being abundant in the dermal and insterstitiul mem-
branes ; but it would be impossible to obtain both
these forms from the same sponge. Each of these
species of sponge has a muie abundant form of
spicule — the skeleton spicule— which in each species
is very similar. It is pointed at each end, but per-
fectly smooth, instcfid of being rough or spincd on
the siirfacc. — //. R.

HARDWICKE'S SCIENC E-GO SSIP.

21

Insects and Ploaveus. — WiMi veffard to the
communication of " W. W. H.," in the December
number of Science-Gossip, I quite aprree with him
that butterflies have a great objection to geraniums,
and an equally strong predilection for a lavender
hedge; but I think that he is mistaken in sup-
posing that the flavour of the nectar influences the
colour of the blossom. In obedience to a general
law, butterflies settle on those objects which, by
their nature and colour, are most likely to protect
them, and shield them from observation. We never
see a IMeadow Erowu soaring aloft like a Hed Ad-
miral ; it always flutters near the sombre-coloured
earth. A place well-known to London eiitomolo-
sists is Box-hill, in Surrey, which during the season
literally swarms with graylings. Yet the hill is so
covered with flint stones, that the butterflies are
quite invisible uutil disturbed. There is also a little
sreen tortrix (I think its name is Lepfogramma
Uteraiia) which is very abundant in the woods here
during the summer months ; but as it is of a brisrht
green colour, and always settles on the nnder-sides
of the leaves, it eludes the sharpest scrutiny. — E. C.
Lefroij, Blaclcheath.

Saffron (r>. 281, vol. vii."). — Tlie writer of the
work referred to bv "J. F. C" has probably been
misled by a similarity of name in assuniiu'r that the
bastard saffron, or safflower (Carflir/mns tindorinii),
is the plant from which Saffron Wsilden takes its
name. The safflower answers well to the descrip-
tion given. It resembles a thistle, but the seed is
smootli, and " without down." Tlie " full-blown
flower" is the part used for dyeing purposes, and
when dried is said to resemble the true saffron so
exactly, as only to be distinguishable by tlie absence
of smell. About the "shrewd pilgrim" I can find
nothing; but, according to Paxton's "Botanical
Dictionary," this species of Carfhamns was intro-
duced into England from Egypt in WcA.— G.lI.H.

Sapfron : Peel's Parsley-leaf (Science-
Gossip, 1871, r). 281).— Mr. Thornbury is not so
far out as J. E. C. seems to think. The "Orange-
juiced Saffron" is, no doubt, CartJuimns thidorius,
more frequently called Safflower. " Peel's parsley-
leaf " refers to the following anecdote from "The
Life and Character of Sir Robert Peel," by Sir
Laurence Peel, published in I860: — "Mr. Peel
was in his kitchen making some experiments in
printing on handkerchiefs and other small pieces,
when his only daughter. . . . brought him in from

their 'garden of herbs' a sprig of parsley

She pointed out and praised the beauty of the leaf,
and looking, by habit of imitation, naturally to the
useful side, she said that she thought it would make
a very pretty pattern. He took it out of her hand,
looked at it attentively, praised it for its beauty,
and her for her taste, and said that he would make
a trial of it. ... A pewter dinner-plate .... was
taken down from the shelf, and on it was sketched
— say, rather, scratched— a figure of the leaf, and
from this impressions were taken. It was called in
the family Nancy's pattern, after his daughter. It
became a favourite : in the trade it was known as
the parsley-leaf pattern ; and apt alliteration, lend-
ing its artful aid, gave its inventor the nickname of
Parsley Peel. — James Britten, British Museum.

Saffron (p. 281, No. SI).— The writer quoted
in the above note evidently fell into the_ error of
confounding Safflower {Carthamus finctorius) ynW\
Saffron. The Safflower is a composite plant, and is
not, I believe, cultivated in England. The following
particulars will be seen to agree very well with the

description quoted by J. F. C. :— "It has an erect
cylindrical stem, branching near the sunnnit, a foot
or two high, and furnished with sharp-pointed, oval,
sessile, somewhat spiny leaves. ... On the opening
of the flowerets they are rapidly gathered, without;
being allowed to expand fully. jTliey are then dried
with great care. It grows naturally in Egypt, and
is cultivated largely in Spain and in many parts of
the Levant, whence it is chiefly imported, and from
India." (Balfour's "CyclopEcdia of India," p. 293.)
It is probably to its introduction into Spain that
the tradition refers. — F. V. P.

Infusoria, &c. — Would you be kind enough to
let me know which is the best method to prepare
and mount "Infusoria"? I should like to know
by what means you get rid of the water in which
the animalculai are ; and by what preservative you
keep the clenned infusoria? — H. Sammann.

[The above inquiry is much too vague to enable
us to give the information our correspondent re-
quires. It is necessary to know what organisms he
wishes to preserve. The terms infusoria and
animalculre are very indefinite. If he means the
desmids and diatoms, full explanations of the best
methods of preparing and mounting those forms
have appeared from time to time in the pages of
this Journal. If. however, our correspondent means
such forms as Eotifers, Steiitors, Stephmioceri, &c.,
no method has yet; been discovered of preserving
such delicate and sensitive organisms.]

Ancient Serpent - worship. — Mr. John S.
Phene, E.G.S., has made several interestinar dis-
coveries, and has just investigated a curious eartlien
mound in Glen Feochan, Argyleshire, referred to by
him at the late meeting of the British Association
in Edinburgh as bein;? in the form of a serpent or
saurian. The mound is a most perfect one. The
head is a lavire cairn, and the body of the earthen
reptile 300 feet long ; and in the centre of the' bead
there were evidences of an altar having been placed
there. The shape can only be seen so as to be
understood when looked down nron from an eleva-
tion, as the outline cannot be understood unless the
whole of it can be seen. This mound corresponds
almost entirelv with one 700 feet lonsr in America,
an account of which was lately published, after
careful survey, bv Mr. Squier, The sinuous wind-
ings and articulations of the vertebral spinal
arrangement are anatomically perfect in the Argyle-
shire mound. Beneath the cairn forming the head
of the animal was found a megalithic chaml)er, in
which were a quantity of charcoal and burned earth
and charred nut-shells, a flint instrument beautifully
and minutely serrated at the edge, and buiued
bones. The" back or spine of the animal form was
found beneath the peat moss to be formed by a
careful adjustment of stones, the forniation of which
probably prevented the structure being obliterated
by time and rain.

Once more Borrago (see p. 239, vol. vii.}.— My
authority for the Italian borrrtpine is Buttura, Diet,
fraiigais-ital. et ital.-fratigais (Paris, 1832), and so
it must be written, as the a in the second syllable
is not long, but short. The Spanish borraxa is the
old-fashioned mode of spelling of what, since 1815,
is written borraja : the pronunciation of both was
in all times the same (with deep guttural j). The
Portuguese horragens is the plural of borragem
Also in other languages there are plant-names used
in both numbers ; as, for instance. Span, herro and
herros=ioater-cresses. TheDutch hernctgie is derived
from the old verb bernen or barnen, to-day brcrnden,

22

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

i.e., to burn, most certaiiilj^ witli allusion to the
rough, somewhat stiiigiug hairs of the plant. So
much in defence of what I wrote. — A. Ernst,
Caracas, Venezuela.

The "Ltvek."— There appears to be a great
diversity of opinion as to the bird now known as
the lAver, which figures so conspicuously in the
arms of Liverpool. Can you tell me what bird is
meant t—Inciidrer.

TBi-rETALOTJS PRniROSE.— On the 11th Novem-
ber I gathered, in a wood near Battle, several
blooms of Primula vulgaris (common primrose), one
of which was a curious variety, with only three
petals. It does not seem very unusual for prim-
roses to bloom in the autumn, as in the year 1S65 I
gathered some on September 26th. I may also
mention that on the 19th November I observed
three swallows flying in the sunshine at Battle.
The temperature in tlie shade at the time was
bdow freezing.— t/. //. A. Jenner.

Mice im Tkaps. — IVill any of your readers ex-
plain the phenomenon of the death of mice caught
iminjured in a live-trap? A house-mouse — after
being in the trap a short tinio, shaking the wires
and trying every means of escape — seems to resign
itself to its fate and at once die, instead of patiently
and without further struggle awaiting the coming
of the trapper, as a rabbit does in a snare. It is
found in a sitting posture, plump and sleek, but
cold and stiff. A field-mouse taken in a similar
trap remains alive for a longer time, but dies alter
some hours in a similar manner. lias the mouse
the power of dying of its own will ? Or are fright
and exhaustion the causes of death? Neither the
one nor the other can be nearly so great as it must
suffer, often for alengthened time, from a cat before
she destroys it. — Plalomys.

Walken'g Eekns, &c. — On a recent visit to a
noted watering-place, called Bedford Springs, in
Bedford County, Pa , I was very much pleased to
find oue of the ilnest specimens of the Clwmtozorus
rhizophylluYii (Walking Fern) I ever saw, situated on
a rock jiist above v.'here a strong spring arises. The
rock was entirely covered, so)ne of the fronds being
a foot in length. Should any of the readers of
SciENCE-GossiF wish any leaf fungi, I will gladly
supply them, by sending their address to me. I
have quite a variety of them. I notice Roestelia
physota growing on the leaf of Fyrus coronaria
(sweet-scented crab-apple), which is, indeed, beau-
tiful. I have also a collection of diatom aceons de-
posits, and desire to send them to you, or such as
may desire them. They are niostly from Pennsyl-
vania.— Dr. J. Curtis, Knoxville, Tennessee.

A House to Let.— ;-In the aquarium at the
Crystal Pahice a very diverting entertainment was
lately given by the Hermit Crabs. A fight was in
progress between a little crab and a big one ; but
it was a spiritless aflair, the big one evidently dis-
daining so sniall an oiiponent, and the small one,
naturally taking adv.autage of such lukewarmne-s,
wanted the big one's shell, and would probably
liaTO continued to annoy him had he not caught
sight, of a comrade who was leisurely examining an
empty whelk shell (as a man might look over a
house he fancied). Towards this comrade he went,
and a smart encounter followed, — a struggle for the
possession of the residence. They held one an-
other's claws to gain advantage in the attack, until

at last the comrade seemed tired of the contest,
and retired, doubtless satisfied with his old house,
and not thinking the new one worth fighting about.
The little crab having obtained possession of it,
turned it quickly over into a convenient position,
and rapidly drawing his defenceless posteriors from
their confined shelter, inserted them into the uew
oue, and marched off victor. — R. W. B. G.

Oak Eggar. — Are the urticating properties of
the oak eggar {B. ajiercus) larvae commonly knowTi ?
On taking one of these caterpillars into my hand
last autumn I immediately experienced a smarting
sensation (resembling the sting of a nettle, only not
quite so painful) in the part which came iu contact
with the creature, and the pain continued for four
or five days. I was out of health when I touched
the larva, so perhaps that had something to do with
the smart occasioned, for another person with me
at the time, on takiug up the caterpillar, felt no
pain whatever.—^. B.. S.

White Varieties. — It may be interesting to
some to know that I have found white varieties of
the following plants : — Ajiif/a reptans, two or
three specimens ; Betonica oJJicinaUs, a single spe-
cimen; Geranium Robert iannm, a, large number of
specimens ; and Hyacintlms non-scriptus, a few
specimens. All these grew on a clay soil, with the
typical plants. I also found growing on a very
chalky soil one large specimen of Cichorinni Tntybus.
I think a white variety of this last plant is uncom-
mon.— T. B. Blow, Welioyn, Herts.

The British Eorget-me-not {Myosotis). — The
British species of Eorget-me-nots— namely, M. pa-
lustris, repens, and ccespitosa — are often confounded
with each other. We frequently find, especially
in old herbaria, both 31. ctespitosa and M. repens
labelled Myosotis palustris. AH the three species
inhabit bogs and the margins of ditches and ponds,
and may with propriety be called by the old familiar
name Porget-me-not ; but this is no reason for
assuming that they are all one species ; besides, by
attending carefully to a few well-defined character-
istics, they may at first sight be easily recognized.
The two first, \\^meA.3I. palustris and M.repe)is,\m\Q
angular stems, dark-green foliage, a rough habit of
growth, and creeping roots ; on the contrary, M.
ccespitosa has a liglit-greeu, translucent, and elegant
appearance, with tufted fibrous roots, and roundish
stem. Myosotis palustris (Kipholf?).— Roots creep-
ing, blackish; stem angular; pubescence of the stem
spreading; flowers large, bright blue, with a yellow
eye ; calyx divided about one-third way down ; seg-
ments broad, triangular, single-ribbed; raceme
usually leafless. M. repens (Don.) may be known
from the preceding species by its smaller and jialer-
colourcd flowers, leafy raceme, leaves tapering off
to an acute point, and lanceolate acute calyx-seg-
ments. M. ccespitosa (Schullz), whole plant of a
slender, tiifted, elegant apiiearance ; roots fibrous,
not creeping; stem roundish, clothed with white
close-pressed pubescence ; calyx divided halfway
down ; segments lauceolate, 3-ribbed ; corolla small,
concave, equalling the tube ; lobes entire. The
flowers of M. palustris and repens are seldom found
except of a bright blue colour, but white varieties
of M. Cfcspitosa are not unfrequent. On Delamere
Forest I have seen lar^e masses of M. palustris and
caspitosa intermingled; the latter, however, had
only white flowers. Although these species prefer
a damp or boggy soil, they may be grown success-
fully in the garden border. — James F. Robinson.

liARDWlCKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

23

A Strange Eepttle. — You may incline to notice
a curious creature lately found in a garden in this
town. It is a specimen of the Crowned Tapayaxiu
{Phnjnosoma Blaimnllii), common in America, and
often made a pet of in California. Itis betwcena
lizard and an iguana, and is, including the tail,
about five inches in length. It is covered all over
^Tith triangular spines, and has two long horns at
the back of the head. The 1ail, which is not a long
one, is bordered on both sides with spines, and the
entire animal is plated with armour, like the Arma-
dillo. The feet are very delicate and beautiful, ter-
minated with long, sharp, and elegantly curved
claws. When in its native state it canrun with
considerable rapidity, but in confinement it remains
almost stationary, even when touched. It feeds on
insects, and is said to be very partial to red ants.
How it came into this locality is at present a
mystery, and how long it has been there is also un-
known.— Irwin Sharp, }resfoii-siiper-3Iare.

GrrSY-MOTH. — In the Septeinber number of
SciEXCE-Gossip, pase 215. Mr. J. R. S. CliHord
mentions a Gipsy {Liparis dispar') which was taken
near Odiham in 1870. He may be interested to
know that I have lately seen a tine male of species,
taken flying, last summer, iu the same locality. It
is much darker, and slightly larger than those speci-
mens which we obtain by breeding. It was captured
by a Mr. Holland, of Reading, and I have no doubt
of its authenticity. This moth is easily reared from
the e^g, and I was much pleased with the brood I
reared daring the past season. Tiie larva are strik-
ingly handsome ; but I was not successful in ob-
taining a female equal in size to the figure in
Newman's "British JNioths." Have other entomo-
logists remarked this ? — John Henderson.

TErratum, under "White Varieties,*' on p 281,
vol. vii. for Burgllfield read Burghjield. — /. //.]

Reuieby wanted.— In reply to "A. E. ]\I.,"'I
forward the under-mentioned receipt, which has
been found efScacions in removing from the ceiling
of a church dark stains whicli were supposed to have
been caused by the admixture of sea sand in the
mortar or cement. Wash to be laid on with a com-
mon whitewash brush : 4 gallons of clean soft water,
1 pint of oil of vitriol. For colouring after ; 1 bushel
of Huddleston lime slaked iu warm water, 4 lb. of
Ptussia tallow melted in hot water, 1 lb. of green
copperas dissolved in warm water, 1 lb- of Englisb
umber, all mixed together, reduced to a proper
thickness for layin? on the work v>'ith strong beer-
grounds laid on with a brush. — J. C. T.

Cleaning Skeletons.— I have had the following
receipt given me for cleaning skeleton?, and it has
answered perfectly to the present time. After
skinning and disembowelling the animal, cover it
with unslaked lime, adding a little water. Look
at it occasionally, and remove the flesh, which will
come off easily. This method bleaches the bones,
preserves the ligaments, so that the skeleton must
always be in its proper position, and does not smell
at all. All kinds of animals — birds, lizards, fee-
can be done this way. — Alfred C. Haddon.

The Natd Worm. — I have had for some days,
in the live-box of my microscope, one of the tribe
of annelids. I have frequently examined him with
a Ross's 1-incli object-glass. It is the Nais, about
half an inch in length, and has hanging about the
body (most of them being near to his tail) a goodly

number of Vortlcella microstoma ; some budding,
some dividing, some sessile, some stalked, but all
fringed with cilia ; some have become detached
whilst the Nais has been swimming in the live-box.
It is the only specimen of the Nais I have found
so adorned. Is it often found ? The Naid worm is
a beautiful subject for microscopic observalion. The
specimen I have been examining shows considerable
power of elongation and contraction. Its move-
ments in the box have now been incessant for six
days. The cephalic portion elongates the most.
The bristles, which arc seated upon tubercles, are
very flue, beautifully transparent. The movements
of the animal are very rapid, but he docs not seem
to use the bristles for progression, but seems to
advance like a snake or eel, wdiilst the tail termi-
nates by a disc like a leech. The elongation of the
animal takes place in each segment between the
bristles. Whilst at comparative rest (I have never
found it still) the encephalic segments are shorter
than those which carry the vascular trunk ; and
when the head is protruded it looks like the snout
of a pike. I have not made out the mouth suffi-
ciently to describe it with precision. The parasites
upon him do not interfere with his freedom of
movement. — Alfred Carpenter, Croydon.

Double Lemon. — A friend has sent me a re-
markable example of a lemon, which, on being cut
across, was found to have a smaller lemon growing
inside it. The inclosed fruit was about the size of
a nutmeg, completely covered with yellow rind,
which had the texture and the aroma of the ordi-
nary external skia. It was a little irregular in
shape, showing the marks of union of the carpels of
which it is formed, but the sutures are completely
united. A section of the inner fruit shows a small
quantity of pulp and juice in each carpel, but no
attempt at pips. The lemon itself was squeezed
before the inner fruit was discovered, so it is im-
possible to say whether it contained any pips ; but
it is believed that it did not. The smaller fruit was
attached to the base of the larger one without any
iaterveuing stalk. The genus Citrus is very prone
to form supernumerary carpels iu its flowers, and
these occasionally protrude through the apex of the
ripe fruit ; hut it is unusual to find them completely
inclosed. In this case I am inclined to think that
the ovules have taken the form of carpels rather
than that there was a second whorl of pistils in the
flower. — Robert Holland.

PicKis BuooMUAPE. — In Science-Gossip for
1871 (p. 119) there is a paragraph by "J. B., Brad-
ford Abbas," referring to this plant as being
" abundant in the hedge-rows and clover-fields of
Dorset." There is, I have no doubt, a mistake
here as to the name of the plant intended to lie re-
ferred to. The true Picris Broomrape {Orhanche
Picridis, P. Schultz) is by no means a conunou
plant, and has only been recorded from Cambridge,
Pembroke, Kent, and Isle of Wight. Although
from its ascertained range it is very possible the
plant may be found in Dorset, it is not likely to be
abundant, as represented by " J. B." The plant he
refers to is probably Orhanche -minor, which is very
common, in the South of England at least, on
clover; it occurs, but much less frequently, _ on
other plants, and I have seen it on a Gazania iu a
garden. 0. Picridis is held by many botanists to
be merely a variety of this species, from which it
differs very slightly. I do not think it has been
found on any plant but the Picris.— F. I. Warner,
Winchester.

21

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

NOTICES TO COPcRESPONDENTS.

All cnramunicatioiis relative to advertisements, post-office
orders, and orders for the supijly of this Journal, should be
addressed to the Publishkr. All contributions, books,
and pamphlets for the Editor should be sent to 192,
Piccadilly, London, W. To avoid disappointment, contri-
butions should not be received later than the 1 5th of each
month. No notice whutfirer ran be taken 0/ cnmmimifn-
tions which do not contain the name and address of the
wtiter,not necessarily for publication, if desired to be with.
held. We do not undertalte to answer any queries not
specially connected with Natural History, in accordance
with our acceptance of that term ; nor can we answer
queries which might be solved by the correspondent by an
appeal to any elementary book on the subject. We are
always prepared to accept queries of a critical nature, and
to publish the replies, provided some of our readers, besides
the qnerist, are likely to be interested in them. We do not
undertake to return rejected manuscripts unless sufficient
stamps are enclosed to cover the return postage Neither
can we promise to refer to cr return any manuscript after
one month from the date of its receipt. All microscopical
drawings intended for publication should have annexed
thereto the powers employed, or the extent of enlargement,
indicated in diameters (thus: x 320 diameters). Communi-
cations intended for publication shoum oe written on one
side of the paper only, and all scientificnames,ondnamesof
places and individuals, should be as legible as possible.
Wherever scientific names or technicalities are employed, it
is hoped that the common names will accompany them.
Lists or tables are inadmissible under any circumstances.
Those of the popular names of British plants and animals
are retained and registered for publication when suffi-
ciently complete for that purpose, in whatever form may
then be decided upon. Auup.ess, No. 192, Pkxadilly,
London, W.

L. H. S.— The late nest of Song Thrush is probably a second
liatch. It is not uncommon, especially as the autumn was
so fine.

E. H. S. — Not an uncommon occurrence, especially after a
wet season.

H. F. P. — Ti-idontium (Dicranum) pellucidum. — R. B.

J. S. W. Durham. — The remains of plants embedded in
mica-schist are not fossil, but merelv roots which had pene-
trated through the softer portions of the rock and been left
there : the same circumstance may frequently be observed in
boulder clays.

Rev. G. Pinder.— Answer next month.

S. A. Brennav. — The list of white varieties of wild flowers
has not been received.

T. S. — Green variety of Fluor Spar (Fluate of Lime), pro-
bably from Alston Moor, Cumberland, where it is common.
E. A., Clifton. — CampyJus linearis.

B. L. T. — 1. Tapes pidJastra. 2. Xassa reticulata, both
common British marine shells.

S. Williams.— The Eyed Hawk-moth (Smerinthics ocel-
latus) ,

J. A. — Mrs. Keating was the lady to whom stamps were
sent. She is very likely travelling about.

R. E. L. — You omitted to inclose the fern whose name was
required.

H. J. —No. 1. Tunicate {Butryllus). No. 2. A lichen
{Lecidia),

H. T. M.— The shells are of the commonest kind, and their
names might have been found in any elementnry work on
British conchology. No. 1. Lymnea stagnalis ; 2. Planorbis
corneas; 3. Planorbis mart^inatus ; 4. Planorbis vortex.

E. H. S. — No. 1 is the Wedge-rust fungus {ilelampsora).
No. 2. Oak-spangles.

T. E., Bucks. — A common fossil in the Lias formation
{Gryphea incurva). Probably from the drift-beds, where it
had been re-deposited.

L. D. — See Lyell's "Antiquity of Man," also Lubbock's
" History of Civilisation."

.1. O., Liverpool. — We shall be happy to assist you as far as
possible; but first " try."

R. N. — Probably " White rust " (Cistupvs candidvs) ; leaf
much decayed.

Pktra. — A good recipe for cleaning skeletons will be found
elsewhere in our columns.

EnwARn B. — Not a seaweed at all. Se3 Sciexck-Gossip
or November laat.

R- S. A., Birkenhead.— 1. Uydrobia silviB. 2. Rissnii.
3. Kellia. 4. Nussu 7iifida. 5. Worm-tubes (Spirorbis) on
back of seaweed.

EXCHANGES.

Notice.— Only one " Exchange'' can be inserted at a time
by the same individual. The maximum length (except for
correspondents not residing in Great Britain) is three lijies.
Only objects of Natural Hi-tory permitted. Notices must be
legibly written, in full, as intended to be inserted.

Wanted. — Some or all of the following ferns, established
plants, — need not be large. Adiantiim macro/ihyltum, tone-
7-itm (if true), and trnpeziforme ; Asplenium prceniorsum,
Iretum, and diniidiatuni ; for which a liberal exchange iu
other varieties will be given. List sent to select from. —
Address M. M., Post Office, Favershani, Kent.

Send stamped and addressed envelope for a leaf of the
Evergreen Oak. Any object of microscopic interest accept-
able.—E. H. S., Norwood Lodge, Streatbam, Surrey.

Wanted dried specimens of Nos. 5, ", 10, 30, 32, 43,
Loud. Cat., for other plants. — Address A. H., Spring Bank,
Burnley.

Stales ok Pktrobius (land variety) and of Manrntomn
major (well mounted), for well-mounted microscopic slides. —
Rev. W. M. Hutton, Lezaque Vicarage, Ramsey, Isle of
Man.

St.\tobi,asts of Atcvnnella fiingnsn (mounted) in exchange
for other good mounted microscopic objects.— John C. Hut-
cheson, 8, Linsdowne Crescent, Glasgow.

P. CoRVDON for other lepidopte-a ; Bombyces preferred.
List to W. J. Lovett, Ho'ly Mount, Croydon,

P01.VGAI.A OXVPTKRA, Pyrola nrenaria, &c., for British
Leguminifer<e, Ericacere, or Orchidacere. — J. H. Lewi?, 180,
Mill Street, Liverpool.

ExcHANOE.— For Weevils, Wing-case of Diamord -beetle
(unmounted).— Edith Meyrick, Downshire Lodge, Blessing-
ton, CO. Wicklow, Ireland.

Duplkates. Oalathea, t'rticas, Atalanta, Ocellatus, P.
Populi, Caga, Subaccipeda, Menthrasti, Sisniperda, Buce-
phala, Vinula, Qnercus (all bred); pupce of S. Pc^miH f < r
pupre of Carpini : my wants are numerous.— R. Garfit, Mar-
ket Square, Alford, Lincolnshire.

Choice slides of selected Diatomacese in exchange for un-
mounted and unprepared insects in perfect condition, and
properly preserved in spirit or otherwise. — Address Arthur
C. Cole, 6(5, St. Domiiigo Vale, Everton, Liverpool.

Egos.— Gyr Falcons', Merlins', and Great and Les'er White
Herons'. &c., for exchange for other effgs. — Address A. C. A.,
Post Office, Staines.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

" The Entomologist's Monthly Magazine." December.

"The Zoologist." December, if;;i.

" Annals of Natural History," for December.

"Insects at Home"; being a popular account of British
inserts, their structure, habits, and transformations, by the
Rev. J. G. Wood, M..\., &c. with upwards of 70O figures).
London : Longman, Green, & Co. 1S72.

"Historical Geology," by Ralph Tate, F.G.S., &c. Illus-
trated. London : Lockwood & Co.

" Quarterly German Magazine." November.

" The American Naturalist." November.

"Bird Life." December.

" The Momitain," by Jules Michelet. London : T. Nelson
& Sons.

"Nature, or the Poetry of Earth and Sea," by Madame
Michelet. London : T. Nelson & Sons.

" Beautiful Birds in Far-t flf Lands," by Mary and Elizabeth
Kirby. Loudon : T. Nelson & Sons.

Co.mmunications Received. — T. A.— L.H. S.— H. W.B G.
— W^ T. M.— P. W. R.— G. C— O. S.-G. E. R— I. S.—
E. H. S.— J. H. A. J.— C. E. B.— T. C. B.-G. G.— J. R. S. C.
— E. A. M. (accepted) .-W. H. L— T. G. B.-G. H. K.— J. D.
— H. H.-T. O. W.— Dr. J. C— H. H. H.— A. E.— J. F.—
S. A. B.— E. P. F.-F. C.-G. J. B.-A.C.-J. S.W.-E.L.—
M. A. B.— J H.-R. n. W\— A. C.T.— S. L. B— E. H. (ac
cepted).— H. E. W.— J. F. R.-J. B.— E. C. L.-G. H. H.—
W. S.— G. G.— J. C— J. B.-J. G.— J. B. B.— C. M.— T. E. M.
-J. T.

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

COLLECTING AND PEESEEVING.

No.. I-GEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS.

HERE is, perhaps,
nothing more bewil-
dering to a young
student, whose
reading has ended
in urging him to
be a collector, than
how he is to go
about it. As a
rule, as he cannot
find exactly what he wants in
manuals, and people whom he
asks for information are apt
to credit him with knowing
more than he really does. Por
the purpose of aiding young
beginners as far as possible,
it has been determined to
commence a series of articles,
from month to month, on
" Collecting and Preserving"
the various kinds of natural-
history objects. It is intended
that each shall be written by an
able and competent naturalist in each department,
so that our young readers may have the benefit of
the best advice we can give them ; and where illustra-
tions of necessary implements, &c., are required, we
purpose to furnish them. The great end of natural-
history reading should be the development of a love
for the objects dwelt upon, and a desire to know more
about them. This can only be brought about by
such practical acquaintance as collecting and pre-
serving them induces. At the same time we should
be sorry to see our young readers degenerate into
mere collectors ! It is a great mistake to suppose
that because you have a full cabinet of butterflies,
moths, or beetles, that, therefore, you are a good
entomologist ; or that you may lay claim to a dis-
tinguished position as a geologist, on account of
drawers-full of fossils and minerals. But this is a
No. 8G.

mistake into which young naturalists frequently
fall. We have seen people with decided tastes for
these studies, never get beyond the mere collecting.
In that case they stand on a par with collectors of
postage-stamps. Nor is there much gained, even
if you become acquainted witli English, or even
Latin, names of natural-history objects. Many
people can catalogue them glibly, and never make a
slip, and yet they are practically ignorant of the
real knowledge which clusters round each ob-
ject, and its relation to others. Both Latin and
English names are useful and even necessary ; but
when you have simply learnt them, and nothing
more, how much wiser are you than before ? No, let
the learning of names be the alphabet of science —
the means by which you can acquire a further
knowledge of its mysteries. It would be just as
reasonable to set up for a literary man on the strength
of accurately knowing the alphabet, as to imagine
you are a scientific man the moment you have
learned by heart a few scores of Latin names of
plants, fossils, or insects ! Let eacli object re-
present so much knowledge, to which the very
mention of its name will immediately conjure up a
crowd of associations, relationships, and intimate
acquaintances, and you "will then see what a store
of real knowledge may be represented in'a carefuUy-
arranged cabinet.

The heading of the present article will have in.
dicated the subject chosen for brief treatment. We
shall never forget the influence left by reading such
charming and suggestive books as Mantell's "Medals
of Creation," many years ago. Our mind had been
prepared for the enthusiasm which this little book
produced by the perusal of Page's " Introductory
Text-book," PhiUips's "Guide to Geology," and
several others of a similar character. But we know
of none which impels a young student to go into the
field and hammer out fossils for himself, like Dr.
Mantell's works. It is impossible not to catch the
enthusiasm of his nature. The first place we sallied

c

26

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

out to, on our maiden geological trip, was a heap of
coal-shale, near a pit's mouth, in the neighbour-
hood of Manchester. Our only weapon was a com-
mon house hammer, for we then knew nothing of
the technical forms which geological fancy so often
assumes. We had passed that same heap of coal-
shale hundreds of times, without suspecting it to
be anything more than everybody else considered
it ; viz. a heap of rubbish. "Wiiy that particular
spot was selected, we cannot now say. We had
seen illustrations of carboniferous plants, shells,
&c., in books, but we seemed to imagine their dis-
covery could only be effected by scientific men, and
that it required a good deal of knowledge before
one should attempt to find them. Suffice it to say
we made the pilgrimage to the coal-shale heap in
pretty much the same mind as we should expect to
get the head prize in some fine-art drawing. The
humble hammer was put into use, for a brief time
without much effect, as we could hardly have com-
menced on a more barren kind of shale than we had
chanced to hit upon. We imagined we could per-
ceive traces of leaves and slender stems, but were
afraid to trust our ej'es. At any rate, there was
nothing definite enough to raise our enthusiasm.
But by-and-by, as the hammer kept cleaving open
the thin leaf-like layei's of shale, there appeared a
large portion of that most beautiful of all fossil
plants, the Lepidoclendron. Those who are familiar
with this object, with its lozenge-shaped markings
running spirally up the stem, will readily under-
stand the outburst of pleasure whicli escaped our
lips ! That was the first real fossil — ^a pleasure
quite equivalent to that of landing the first salmon.
How carefully was it wrapped in paper, and carried
home in the pocket ! There never was, and never
will be, another fossil in the world as beautiful as
that insignificant fragment of Lepidoclendron !

We have seen a good many converts made to
geology in a similar manner, since first we laid open
to the light this silent memorial of ages which have
passed away. Let a man have ever so slight ac-
quaintance with geology, and give him the chance of
hammering out a fossil for himself, and the odds
are you thereby make him a geologist for life.
There is something almost romantic in the idea
that you are looking for the first time, and have
yourself disentombed the remains of creatures
which probably lived scores of millions of years
ago ! We would strongly advise our readers, there-
fore, not to fall into the error of supposing that
fossil-hunting belongs to highly-trained geologists.
On the contrary, it is by fossil-hunting alone that
you can ever hope to be a geologist yourself.
Another mistake often made, is that of supposing
these rich and interesting geological localities arc
at a distance. It seems so hard to suppose, after
reading about typical sections, &c., that under your
very feet, in the fields where you liavc *o often

played, there occur geological phenomena of no
less interest. But it is actually surprising what
evidences of our earth's great antiquity, in the
shape of fossils, &c., may be studied and obtained
in the most out-of-the-way and insignificant places.
You say you have no rocks in your neighbourhood
— nothing but barren sands, or beds of brick-earth
or clay. Wei!, go to some section of the latter,
exposed, perhaps, in some tarn or stagnant pond in
a turnip-field. You examine the sides, and what
do you see ? Nothing, but here and there a boul-
der-stone sticking out. Well, be content with that.
You said you had no rocks in your neighbourhood ;
how, then, has that boulder, which is a rounded
fragment of a rock broken off from somewhere, —
how has it come there ? Here is a poser at once.
Examine it, and you will perhaps see that its hard
surface is polished or scratched, and then you
remember the theory of icebergs, and feel astonished
to think that you hold in your hand an undeniable
proof of the truth of that theory. Those very
scratchings could have been produced iu ao other
way ; that foreign fragment of rocks now only to
be found on some distant mountain-side, coald have
been conveyed in no other manner. Not ©tantent
with the exterior examination, yau break ilie boul-
der-stone open, when you may chanec to find it is a
portion of Silurian, Carboniferous, or Oolitic lime-
stone, and that it contains /05sj7s belonging to those
formations. Here is a find — an object with a double
interest turning up where you never expected to
discover the slightest geological incident. You
examine other boulders, and find in them general
evidences of ice-action in their present re-deposi-
tion, and most instructive lessons as to the nature
of rocks of various formations, from the granite and
trap series to the fossiliferous deposits. In fact, there
is no place like one of these old boulder-pits for
making oneself acquainted . with petrology, or the
nature of stones.

And now, as to the tools necessary to the young
geologist. First of all, he cannot take tcofeio! It
is a great mistake to imagine that a full set of
scientific instruments makes a scientific man. The
following hammers, intended for different purposes,
ought to be procured. Fig. 12 is an exceedingly
useful weapon, and one we commonly use, to the
exclusion of all others. It is handy for breaking off
fragments of rock for examination ; and, if fossils
be included in them, for trimming the specimens for
cabinet purposes. As a rule, however, field geolo-
gists are always divided over the merits of their
hammers, some preferring one shape and some
another. Fig. 13 is generally used for breaking up
hard rocks, for which the bevel-shaped head is pecu-
liarly adapted. It is usually much heavier than the
rest, and is seldom used except for specific purposes.
If our readers are inclined to study sections of
i)Oukler clay, and wish to extract the rounded and

HARDWICKE'S 5 C lEN CE- GO S SI P.

27

angular boulder from its stiff matrix, tliey cannot
do better tliau use a hammer like fig. 1-i. This is
sometimes called tlie "Platypus" pick. Both ends
can be used, and the pick end is also good for
working on soft rocks, like chalk. A little practice

Pig. 12. Pocket Trimmiiig-
haminer.

Fig

13. Duck's-head
Hammer.

in the field will teach the student how to use these
tools, and when, much better than we can describe
on paper. The hammers can be obtained from any
scientific instrument manufacturer, or from any of
the dealers in geological specimens. We have
found that the best hammers for usage, however,
were to be made out of an old file, softened and well
welded, rolled, and then hammered into a solid
mass. If properly tempered, a hammer made in this
fashion will last you your life.

Fig. 14. " Platypus " Pick for clay, &c.

So much for the rougher weapons of geological
strife. Next, be sure and provide yourself with
thick-soled shoes or boots. Geological study will
take you into a good many queer places, wet and
dry, rough anrl smooth, and it is absolutely ueces-

I sary to be prepared for the worst. Patent leather
I boots and kid gloves are rarely worn by practical
! geologists. And we have heard it remarked at the
j British Association meetings, that they could always
! tell which members belonged to the Geological
i Section by their thick-soled boots. A similar remark
1 applies to clothes. The student need not dress for
j the quarry as he would for the dining-room. Good,
! strong, serviceable material ouglit to be their basis.
Secondly, as to the student's comforts and neces-
saries. These are generally the last thing an ardent
naturalist thinks about. Por ourselves, however,
we give him ample leave to provide himself with
pipe and tobacco, should his tastes lie in that direc-
tion. We never enjoyed a pipe half so much as when
solitarily disinterring organic remains which had
slumbered in the lieart of the rock for myriads of
ages. As to the beer, we can vouch that it never
tastes anything like so good as during a geological
excursion. There is a saying — but, of course, it
cannot be anything else but apocryphal — that no
map of the Geological Survey can be trusted more
than two miles from a public-house ! The author of
this story doubtless intended to insinuate that the
geologists might possibly scamp the ground in their
haste to be refreshed !

We have found the leathern bags sold for school-
book purposes to be as handy to deposit specimens
in, during a journey, as anything else. They have
the merit of being cheap, are strong, and easily
carried. If not large enough, then get a strong,
coarse linen havresack, like tliat worn by volunteers
on a field day. Paper, cotton loaddirig (not wool),
wooden pill-boxes, and a few boxes, which may be
obtained from any practical naturalist, with glass
tops, are sufficient " stock-in-trade " for the young
geologist. The wadding does not adhere to the spe-
cimens as wool does, and the glass-topped boxes
are useful, as it is not then necessary to open a box
and disinter a delicate fossil from its matrix in order
to look at it. Add a good strong pocket lens, sach
as may be bought for half a crown, and your equip-
ment will be coinplete. If you intend to study any
particular district, get the sheets published by the
Geological Survey. These will give you, on a large
scale, the minute geology of the neighbourhood, the
succession of rocks, faults, outcrops, &c. In fact,
you may save yourself a world of trouble by thus
preparing yourself a week or so before you make
your geological excursion. Tlie pith of these re-
marks applies with equal force if you purpose, first
of all, to examine the neighbourhood in which you
live. Don't do so until you have read all that has
been written about it, and examined all the available
maps and sections. This advice, however, applies
more particularly to geological es-dmlmxiion of strata.
If you are bent chiefly on palceontologieal investiga-
tion, that is, on the study of fossils, perhaps it will
be best just to read any published remarks you may

c 2

23

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

liave access to, and then boldly take the field for |
yourself. In addition to a hammer, we would
advise the young student to take a good steel nar-
row-pointed chisel and a putty-knife. The former
is very useful for working round, and eventually
obtaining, any fossil that may have been weathered
into relief. The latter is equally serviceable for
clayey rocks or shales.

In arranging the spoils of these excursions for the
cabinet, a little care and taste are required. We
will suppose you to possess one of those many-
drawered cabinets which can now be obtained so
cheaply. Begin at the bottom, so that the lowest
drawers represent the lowest-seated and oldest
rocks, and the uppermost the most recent. If pos-
sible, have an additional cabinet for local geology,
and never forget that the first duty of a collector is
to have his own district well represented ! A com-
pass of a few miles will, in most cases, enable him
to get a store of fossils or minerals which cannot
well be obtained elsewhere. Supposing he is desir-
ous of having the geological systems well repre-
sented, he can always do so by the insertion of such
paragraphs as those which appear in our own Ex-
change columns. It is by well and thoroughly
working separate localities in this fashion that the
science of geology is best advanced. You hear a
good deal about the " missing links," and it is an
accepted fact that we, perhaps, do not know a tithe
of the organic remains that formerly enjoyed life.
Who knows, therefore, but that if you exhaust your
district by the assiduous collection of fossils, you may
not come across such new forms as may settle many
moot points in ancient and modern natural history ?
The genuine love of geological study is always pretty
fairly manifested in a student's cabinet. Science,
like charity, begins at home. It impels a man to
seek and explain that which is nearest to him, before
he attempts the elucidation of what really lies in
another man's territory !

It is not necessary that the student should waste
time in the field about naming or trying to remem-
ber the names of fossils, &c. on the spot. That
can be best done at home, and the pleasure of " col-
lecting" can thus be spun to its longest length.
Box them, pack them well (or all your labour is
lost), and name them at home. Or, supposing you
do not possess books which can assist you in nomen-
clature, carry your fossils or minerals, just as you
found them, to the nearest and best local museum,
where you will be sure to see the majority of them
in their proper places and with their proper names.
Copy these, and when you arrange your specimens
in the cabinet, either get printed cards with the fol-
lowing headings —

Genus

Species

(which can always be obtained at a cheap rate from
the London dealers), or else set to work and copy
them yourself in a good plain hand, so that there is
no mistaking what you write. As far as possible, in
each drawer or drawers representing a geological
formation, arrange your specimens in natural-history
order — the lowest organisms first, gradually ascend-
ing to the higher. By doing so, you present geolo-
gical and zoological relationship, so that they can be
taken in at a glance. You further make yourself
acquainted with the relations of the fossils in a way
you never would have done, had you been content to
huddle them together in any fashion so that you
had them all together. Glass-topped boxes, again,
are very useful in the cabinet, especially for delicate
or fragile fossils, as people are so ready to take them
in their hands when they are shown, little thinking
how soon a cherished rarity may be destroyed, never
to be replaced. Pasteboard trays, made of stiff green
paper, squared by the student according to size, can
also be so arranged as that the drawer may be entirely
filled, and so the danger of shaking the contents
about may be removed. Each tray of fossils ought
to have the above-mentioned label fastened down in
such a way as that it cannot by accident get changed
by removal.

The spring and summer time are fast approaching,
and we know of nothhig that will so much assist in
their rational enjoyment as the adoption of some study
in natural science. Botany, entomology, ornitho-
logy, geology, are all health-affording, nature-loving
pursuits. We have passed some of the very hap-
piest moments of our lives in solitary quarries or on
green hill-sides, " the world forgetting, by the world
forgot !" There, amid the wreck of former creations,
and with the glory of the present one around us, we
have yielded to the delicious sense of reverie, such as
can only be begotten under such circumstances. The
shady side of the quarry has screened us from solar
heat, and, whilst the air has been melodious with a
thousand voices, we have made personal acquaint-
ance with the numerous objects of God's creation,
animals and plants. How apt are the thoughts
of the poet Crabbe, and how well do they convey
the feeling of the young geologist in such places : —

" It is a lonely place, and at the side
Rises a mountain rock in rugged pride ;
And in that rock are shapes of sheUs, and forms
Of creatures in old worlds, and nameless worms —
Whole generations lived and died, ere man,
A worm of other class, to crawl began."

John E. Taylob,

Formation_
Locality

"Native magnets from Arabia, China, and
Bengal, are commonly of a reddish colour, and are
powerfully attractive. Those found in Germany
and England have the colour of unwrought iron ;
those from Macedonia are more black and dull." —
Professor Noad's "Magnetism."

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

29

THE BANDED SUN-EISH.

{Mesogonistius chcetodon, Gill.)

By Cuarles C. Abbott, M.D.

SEVERAL times I have gone a-fisliing this
summer (1S71), taking with me something to
read, and twice that something has been Science-
Gossip. Away from the smoke and din of a manufac-
turing town, in a quiet nook, guarded on three sides
with a grandly wooded bluff, and through which wan-
dered a lovely stream, I spent many a whole day; and
here it was, while I rested from collecting specimens
of the above-named fish, for my aquarium, that I
determined, with your permission, Mr. Editor, to
give your readers a short pen-and-pencil sketch of
this beautiful fish, which, strange to say, has never
yet been figured in any scientific journal, and is
considered a doubtful species by Gunther iu his
Catalogue of Acanthopterygian Fishes.

Fig. 15. The Banded Sun-fish.

Well, I am happy to say, there is nodoubt whatever
concerning either his existence or individuality. To
see him caper and show off his eccentricities would
delight Mr. Darwin. After ten years' acquaintance
with not only this fish but all his associates, I un-
hesitatingly declare him to be the most intelligent
of our small freshwater fishes ; and that fish are
devoid of intelligence, none will declare who have
studied them carefully.

The Banded Sun-fish lives in quiet waters, where
there is an abundance of vegetation. He delights
to hide in the masses of splatter-docks and allied
plants {Jtiacharis and Nvphar) that are so characf er-
istic of our quiet streams and mill-ponds; but herein
alone he is like the finny companions that he has,
as our various cyprinoids and the other sun-fish
{Pomotls and Eimeacanthus) . If you approach the
bank of the stream carefully, and gaze about with
patience, you can easily detect him eyeing you very
steadily, and if you are not too demonstrative, he
will allow himself to be scrutinized. Stand still a
moment and see him exhibit ! With his dorsal and
ventral fins closely pressed upon his back and sides,
he moves along, slowly, a very ordinary fish, except

that his black and white show out very distinctly ;
but anon, he sees a shell slowly climbing the stalk
of a splatter-dock, and then, oh — wondrous change!
Up goes his dorsal fin, and down fall the ventrals !
His colours deepen— the black bands are deeper
black ; the white interspaces assume a pinkish
hue; and with fins outspread, down he sweeps
upon the unsuspecting shell; and turning, down
go his fins again to his body, and he saunters
carelessly about, apparently using .his colourless
pectoral fins only. He is not to be scooped up, iu^
clear water, as any ordinary sun-fish. Give him
the advantage of but little vegetation, and he will
dodge a scoop-net until your arm aches. Not by
fast swimming, for he is a very slow-motioned fish
in straight-away locomotion ; but he will avoid you
by dodging. In this, he is really perfect ; and I
have got round it, when collecting, by using two
nets, after driving him into a mass of dock and
other aquatic plants. He dislikes to have his
favourite haunt intruded upon by other fish, and
makes a great demonstration, when disturbed,
which succeeds in driving off some fish, but not all.
The ordinary cat-fish especially excites his ire.
These slimy, restless cat-fish {Amiurns Be Kayi) go
nosing about in a most impudent way, and bump
their clammy snouts against any and eyerything
that attracts their attention. This is too much for
our delicate friend, the Banded Sun-fish ; and so,
when he sees a cat-fish nearing him, he is imme-
diately up in arms. His sharp spiny dorsal fin
fairly trembles. He moves not an inch, while the
sluggish Amiurus comes slowly nearer. All is pas-
sive on the Sun-fish's part until the nose of the
"cat " is within an inch or more, when, with a rush,
half head-over-tail, scrape go the sharp spines of
the Sun-fish across the " cat's " face, which causes
him, as we say in America, to skedaddle. Slowly
floating on the clear waters of Crossweelssen Creek,
I have peered over the side of my little boat, and
watched the above scene, perhaps a hundred \
times, and ever laughed heartily at the success of
my little friend.

The geographical range of this species is not
very extended, but being found abundantly about
Philadelphia and Baltimore, it has attracted the
attention of aquaria-keepers ; but their success in
keeping them has not been very good. Why, I
cannot pretend to say, as they are with the writer
a most hardy species ; and not only very hardy, but
attractive in every way. They become very tame,
and will approach the front glass, as you near the
aquarium, and if you put your finger or hand in the
water, they will glide past it, brushing their side
against it, as a kitten rubs itself against one's feet.
We know of no fish more suspicious of man when
in its native haunts, and none that becomes tame
more readily when once placed iu a well-organized
aquarium. This species was first described by

30

HARDWICKE'S SCI ENCK- GOSSIP.

Spencer F. Eaird, of the Smithsonian Institution,
in 1854. Since that time it has become, in many
streams, steadily more abundant ; and although
weaker tiian the common sun-fish, it seems to be
driving them off, or at least taking their place.
With the mass of hook-and-line fishing-boys, this
species is a genuine rara avis, as it will not take
the hook, however seductively offered. At least
such has been my experience ; and I have been
able at odd times to take some species with a
hook that usually bother the " hook-and-liuers ;" as
the " Gizzard-Shad " {Dorosonia cepedian-uni), the
" pirate " {Aphrodederus sai/amis), and some of the
smaller " darters " {Et/ieostoiuoid(c).
Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.

A SIMPLE METHOD EOR PREPAEING

SKELETON LEAVES.

fT^HE old method for preparing skeleton leaves
-^ v.as to macerate tliem in water for several
weeks until the epidermis and parenchyma were
completely decayed; afterwards to rub away be-
twixt the fingers in clean water all the decayed
matter ; then to bleach the skeleton by exposing
it to the sun's rays. This plan is very tedious —
enough almost to tax the patience of Job, — and in
most cases it is given up in despair, because not
only does it take up much valuable time, but tlie
skeleton is frequently imperfect, for some of the
more delicate veinlets having become too soft, are
rubbed away with the cellular matter.

Eroni experience, I can honestly recommend what
I call the new method to all young botanists, espe-
cially so to my fair friends, who take up the science
of botany more as an intelligent amusement than
for severe study. It has many advantages over the
plan detailed above ; very little patience is needed ;
it is cleanly, and tiie skeleton is ready for mounting
or placing in the vase in three or four hours. Of
course, in this, as in other tilings, a little practice
is needful to secure perfection.

First dissolve four ounces of common M-ashing
soda in a quart of boiling water, then add two
ounces of slaked quicklime, and boil for about
fifteen minutes. Allow this solution to cool; after-
wards pour off all the clear liquor into a clean
saucepan. When the solution is at boiling-point,
place the leaves carefully in the pan, and boil the
whole together for an hour. Boiling water ought to
be added occasionally, but sufficient only to replace
tliat lost by evaporation. The epidermis and parcn-
cliyma of some leaves will more readily separate
than others. A good test is to try the leaves after
they have been gently boiling for about an hour,
and if the cellular matter does not e;isily rub off
betwixt the finger and thumb beneath cold water,
boil f'.xm again for a short time. When the flesliy

matter is found to be sufficiently softened, rub
them separately but very gently beneath cold water
until the perfect skeleton is exposed. The skele-
tons at first are of a dirty-white colour; to make
them of a pure white, and therefore more beautiful,
all tliat is necessary is to bleach them in a weak
solution of chloride of lime. I have found the best
solution is a large teaspoonful of chloride of lime to
a quart of water: if a few drops of vinegar are added
to the bleaching solution, it is all the better, for
tiien the free chlorine is liberated. Do not allow
them to remain too long in the bleaching liquor, or
they become too brittle, and cannot afterwards be
handled without injury. About fifteen minutes is
sufficient to make them white and clean-looking.
Dry the specimens in white blotting-paper, beneath
a gentle pressui-e, after they are bleached.

Simple leaves are the best for young beginners
to experiment upon : the vine, poplar, beech, and
ivy leaves make excellent skeletons. Care must be
exercised in the selection of leaves, as well as the
period of the year and the state of the atmosphere
when the specimens are collected, otherwise failure
will be the result. The best months to gather the
specimens are July and August. Never collect spe-
cimens in damp weather; and none but perfectly-
matured leaves ought to be selected.

James E. Robinson.

CORMORANTS AT HOME.

f\R the S'ith of June of the present year (1871)
^-^ I was introduced to a most interesting assem-
blage of Cormorants. The way they received me,
and the manner of carrying out their domestic
arrangements, may be interesting to some of the
readers of Science-Gossip.

On the Northumberland coast, a few miles from
shore, lies a group of islands called the Earn
Islands, thirty-two in number, if the barren rock of
half an acre or so may be considered worthy of that
name. These islands vary much in size ; but it is
one of the larger that I have to do with now, and
the one on which, in September, 1838, the Forfar-
sJiire was wrecked, witli the rescue of whose crew
tiie name of Grace Darling is so intimately con-
nected. Not a hundred yards from the spot on
which this luckless ship struck is the home of the
Cormorants. During the time of incubation these
birds, together with the lesser Black-backed Gull
and a chance Eider Duck and Guillemot, are the
sole inhabitants of the island. The herbage is very
scanty; but even this is not made available to pro-
tect the nests. The barest spots are selected by
the Gulls to lay their eggs; and without the
slightest attempt to form a nest, two or three eggs
are deposited, and it requires the greatest care to
avoid treading on them. It is the Cormorants' dwell-
ings, however, that I want to say a few words about.

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSl P.

31

On the most exposed spot in the island the Cor-
morants have taken up their abode ; and as vre ap-
proached the island, we saw the lon^ bodies and
longer necks of tliese birds conspicuous ; but the
perfume the wind wafted to us indicated their
whereabouts much stronger than was quite plea-
sant, for sanitary regulations are by no means
carried out satisfactorily by this community. When
we had scrambled on the rocks from the boat, we
were within fifty yards of the Cormorants' head-
quarters, inhabited by some fifty or sixty pairs of
birds. At tliis distance they only stretched out
their long necks and eyed us with their small green
eyes. As we approached nearer they showed un-
easiness, and, twisting and stretching their necks,
uttered their peculiar call. The only noise I can
compare it to is ths laughter of our own species.
Fancy a party of fifty or sixty elderly gentlemen all
laughing, not iu a merry, joyous laugh, but in a
gruff ha, ha, haw — some rolling it forth in a deep
guttural way, some sharper and quicker, and some
again in a more lively key, and you will have some
idea how the Cormorants saluted us. When we got
within five or six yards, thebirds stood upright in their
nests, stretched out their long necks, gave out their
"Ha, ha, haw," and flapped away to a little distance,
all the time eyeing us in the most comical way.
I saw that the number of eggs varied ; some nests
only containing two, and others as many as six. I
also observed that the eggs, though all of the long,
uniform, oval shape by which they are so easily dis-
tinguished, varied much in colour, half in the same
nest being of a greenish-white, and the remainder
of a cream-colour ; in fact, I hardly saw a single
nest in which the eggs did not thus differ. The
parent birds, not content with selecting the most
exposed spot, must make their nests more conspi-
cuous-by piling up a quantity of black sea-weed, on
which they lay their eggs. What purpose this mass
of sea-weed served was a puzzle to me. From the
heat of the sun in this exposed situation it had be-
come hard aud dry, and by no means formed a soft
bed for the eggs or young; besides, it was so
loosely put together, that it did not prevent the
eggs rolling out, and I saw several eggs lying a
little distance from the nest. These birds, at other
times the most shy and wary of sea-fowl, when at
home appear to change their nature, and become as
tame as barn-door fowl. During the time we re-
mained near the nests the old birds kept a watch-
ful eye upon our proceedings, though never at-
tempted to drive us from their nests by swooping
or flying'overhead, as many of the Gulls, and parti-
cularly the Terns, did. As soon as we had left the
spot a little distance, we saw the old birds resume
their post in a quiet, business-like manner, uttering
their " Ha, ha, haw " with gravity, and quietly
settling down on their nests.
Mount Pleasant, FernjluU. T. I. B.

THE DESTRUCTION OF ENGLISH

BUTTERFLIES.

T HEAD this advisedly, because 1 believe it is in
■Jl-Eugland, rather than in Scotland or Ireland, that
the destruction of these insects is carried on to an
extent ' which greatly dimiuislies some species,
and threatens the extermination of others. I have
already referred to this in print, and abler pens than
mine have commented on the subject, yet the evil
is unabated. My attention has been recently called
to it by some observations made by Mr. Birchell in
the Entomologist. He mentions several northern
districts in >hieh certain butterflies, such as lo,
Paphia, Rhamni, and Galathea, have become scarce,
or have even disappeared. We ask, " How is this—
is it due to the builder or the agriculturist ? " No ;
his reply is, that it is caused by the "merciless pur-
suit and wholesale slaughter carried on by the
makers of buttefly pictures. The numbers thus
annually destroyed are almost incredible. I have
known 250 ' peacocks ' used in the construction of
an elephant, and upwards of 500 ' tortoiseshells ' in
the figure of a crocodile three feet long. A portrait of
Lord Brougham in butterflies, the checked trousers
depicted by Galatheas' wings, is considered a clever
work of art ! "

Now this seems laughable, but it is really serious,
and the practice, if extensively 'pursued, will do more
ndschief than is produced by the extensive captures
made by some collectors for the purpose of exchange.
No doubt the growth of towns and the cultivation
of waste lauds have their influences too, but these
are not irremediable.

I believe that we shall have at last to institute a
society, the object of which shall be the preser-
vation of our butterflies from extensive spoliation.
No doubt, iu many instances, the common sense of
individuals, if it could be appealed to, would lead
them to desist from a course as suicidal as that of
the man iu the fable, the luckless killer of the goose
which produced golden eggs. J. E. S. C.

POLYXENES.
"POLYXENES, or Polyxenws.—" A little oblong

jr

animal, with tufts of minute scales on its

sides, and a pencil of hairs at its tail. It has twelve
pairs of feet, and is found under the bark of trees,"
so say Latreille, Cuvier, and Lamarck.

This is my Polyxenes — Polyxenes Lagurus — or
Hare-tailed Millipede. But how came he by so fine
a name ?

Polyxenes (if it mean anything) means " One who
entertains many friends." Let us see who his
friends are, and what sort of company he keeps.
Strip off a piece of dead bark from the yew-tree,
and examine the under side M'ith a magnifying-glass

32

HAEDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

— a very qucstiouable and sinister-looking party in-
deed. Wood-lice and small spiders run this way
and that, like a gang of pickpockets in Rag-fair
disturbed by P'liceman X. on our first approach ;
but a bolder fellow, of villanous aspect, in a striped
uniform, and armed with a pair of tremendous
scorpion claws and with hoo pairs of ci'ocodile jaws
beset with long teeth, walks leisurely about back-
wards, forwards, or sideways, like his cousin the
crab, as it best suits him ! This is no less a person-
age than Chelifer cimicoides ; and it is a matter for
congratulation that he is no bigger than he is, for a
more formidable-looking monster it is impossible to
imagine. Let us put him away for further con-
sideration on some other occasion, and go on with
our observations on Polyxenes and his habitation.
Now the latter is anything but neat and tidy ; and
I shrewdly suspect that our friend carries on the

immMMMiiinM^

Tig. 16. Polyxenes La gurus, x 33.

business of an old clo' man ; for in every direction
his own left-clf wearing apparel, together with the
tattered garments of spiders and earwigs, are seen
dangling on the walls by shreds of cobweb, as I
suppose, "to be sold a bargain ! "

Let me recommend you, my dear young nature-
lover and happy possessor of a microscope, to col-
lect some of these old clothes, which, by the way,
you will find, as the advertisement has it, " Quite
equal to new," as well as living specimens of Poly-
xenes; for \ihether examined as opaque or trans-
parent objects, with spot lens or open diaphragm,
with high or low powers, they will give you many

an hour of pure enjoyment ; that is, if you are made
of the stuff which I hope you are. You will then
begin to think, with me, that "Polyxenes, the enter-
tainer of many friends," is not such a very great mis-
nomer after all.

" Eirst catch your hare," says careful Mrs.
Glasse. " Eirst catch j'our Hare-tail," say I ; and,
having caught him, put hira in a pill-box lid, and
examine him first with a pocket lens, and then with
a two-inch or inch objective. Mark his graceful
movements. He runs as if on castors rather than
on feet ; and, sure enough, if you examine his under
surface, you will see that his legs, although he has
from twelve to eighteen pairs of them, are very liny
and feeble-looking supports indeed. On close in-
spection, they will he seen to be four-jointed, and
armed with a single claw. He is altogether a
harmless and defenceless-looking little animal, and
no match for that ruffian "Chelifer," whom we de-
tected loitering about the premises, and whom we
have remanded, without bail, for future examina-
tion.

Fig. 17. P. Lagurus. Hairs on Feathers of Tufts, x 230.

Now let us examine our little Polyxenes as to his
outward form and adornments. He is oval in
figure, but flat, and fringed with tufts of so-called
scales, which, however, more nearly resemble
feathers; and stretching from tuft to tuft across
his back are double rows of like, but shorter,
feathers. Here let me remark, that the numbers of
tufts and rows vary according to the age of the in-
dividual examined; for he does net— as a true
insect does — change from worm to grub, and from
grub to his mature form, but simply " shuffles off
his mortal coil," — skin, hairs, and leggings all com-
plete, now and then, and takes unto himself a new
row and an additional pair of tufts and legs with
each new habit, until he has attained his full com-
plement. He then leaves his shufiled-ofF " mortal
coil " hanging upon a fragment of dirty cobweb, as
before described. Now let us look at his tail. Not
much like a hare's tail, but a collection of beautiful
silvery hairs, quite different from the feathers of the
tufts, as we shall see heieafter.

This tail I have caught him expanding like a fan,
and I have a mounted specimen of the slough so

HARDWICEE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

35

displaying it ; but in general he carries it as a flat,
broad pencil. When spread, the fan is made up of
small bundles of the peculiar tail-hairs, with a long
feather or two in their intervals.

Let us examine these hairs under a power of
about two hundred diameters. They are nearly
one-fourth the length of the whole body (which
whole length, by the way, may be called a line or a
line and a half), and are prettily ornamented with
small and nearly opposite branches placed in pairs
along their stems, and lying close to them, to the
number of twelve or fourteen. But the crown, or
top of the hair, is its principal beauty. It is grace-
fully bent over, like the head of a bell-flower, and
forms three, or sometimes four, pendants, slightly
clubbed at their extremities, the one nearest to the
stem extending lowest down it, and the outermost
finishing in a spur directed upwards. When the
tail is expanded, these pretty heads are somehow

Fig. 18. P. Lagurus. Hairs of Tail, x 200.

locked together in groups, so as to form conical
apices to the bundles which I have before de-
scribed, while the tiny branches of the stems give
to the whole a beautiful dotted appearance, well
seen with reflected light. A small group of the
"feathers" proceeds from the extremity of the
body, gracefully dividing the fan into two parts.
We will now examine the feathers of the tufts.
They are continued, as I have said, across the back
in double rows, and their quill ends, if I may so de-
scribe them, are hooked, apparently to afford lever-
age for their elevation or depression ; for I have
sometimes seen the little creatures walking about
with the front of each pair of rows elevated, and the
hind one flat upon the back ; and when at the same
time the tail was expanded, the effect was very
pretty, and I have almost thought that " as proud
as Polyxenes " might be substituted for " as proud
as a peacock," thereby relieving the glorious bird
from the monopoly of pride which has been forced
upon him. The limb of the feather, which is of a
rich brown colour, is club-shaped, being thicker
at the extremity than near the quill, and slightly
curved. It is four-sided ; that is to say, if it were

possible to cut one transversely, the section would
appear as a cross, and each of the four borders is
deeply serrated. A fringe of these feathers sur-
rounds the anterior part of the body and head, but
in these positions they are not arranged in tufts.

There is much more to be said about our little
myriapod, — of his several simple eyes,* his stout
seven-jointed feelers, of his mouth, his gizzard lined
with teeth, and of his skin, so beautifully marked
and pitted for the attachment of the tail-hairs ; but
my aim is rather to whet the appetite of some
young microscopist than to satisfy it. There is
plenty more for him to examine before the interest
of our subject is exhausted ; and having well enter-
tained himself with this "entertainer of many
friends," I would say to him, in the words of the
other Polyxenes, i.e. Shakespeare's :

" I beseecli you,
If you know aiight wiiich does behove my knowledge
Thereof to be informed, imprison it not
In ignorant concealment."

Diss, Norfolk, November, 1871.

T. A.

A RIVER- VALLEY AND ITS TRIBUTARIES.

THE excavation of a river-valley, including all
its branches and minor feeders, is a problem
still to be satisfactorily solved, although the new
school of subaerialists would persuade us they
understand all about it. They state "that for
one valley which happens to run a long the line of
a dislocation there are fifty or a hundred which do
not ;" and an ardent Scotch advocate of the theory
even goes so far as to assert "there is no point
which the detailed investigations of the geological
survey have made clearer than this." I, however,
during about twenty years of work in the field, have
found that valleys in connection with which there
could not be a break are, comparatively speaking,
rare, while those having their associated disloca-
tions are numerous ; and of the rest, few, probably, if
their structure was visible, would be unconnected
with cracks or dislocations of the underlying rocks.

The rocks at the downthrow side of a fault seem
nearly always to be more susceptible of denudation
than the rocks at the other side; consequently, as a
valley forms, it is inclined to gradually extend away
from the original line, which would lead a theorist
or hasty observer to suppose no connection between
the two to exist.

The favourite example of the subaeriahsts to prove
their theory is a flat shore, from which the tide is
retreating, and on which minute river-systems form.
This, however, is not a true representation of the
earth's surface, as it is more or less wet ; but if an
observer will visit the strand on a warm day.hewill

• Tliese eyes are easUy seen in living specimens, but
difficult to make out in dead ones.

34

HARDWiCKE'S SCIEN CE-GOSS IP.

find that as the sands dry they form systems of
cracks exactly similar in appearance to a river-
system, having maia valleys, with branches and
minor ramifications ; also, if a shower of rain falls,
it is in these cracks that the water will drain off.

By the following simple experiment any one can
form systems of river-valleys, lake rock-basins,
volcanoes, faults, and the like ; and as it is sa easily
tried, the readers of Science-Gossip may judge
for themselves whether the statements of the
subacrialists are stable or unstable : — Get some
lime-mortar and a good-sized table or board. After
the mortal" is well mixed, incorporate in it some
pieces and fragments of unslaked lime (pieces only
partially burnt are best for the experiment) ; then
spread the mixture evenly with a trowel or flat
board on tlie table : as the pieces of lime begin to
slake, they will swell and form volcanoes (from
which will pop up a minute sliower of lime flour),
gradual upheavals, and systems of faults. If the
mortar is well mixed prior to adding the unslaked
lime, and the latter is only partly burned, cracks will
form in the plaster as it dries, before the lime
begins to slake, and the subsequent upthrows due
to the lime swelling will, in connection with them,
form the systems of faults. If, however, the lime
begins to slake before the plaster is dry and
cracked, a few long shallow cuts with a knife will
act similarly to the cracks. After the lime has all
slaked and the plaster is dry, the board or table
may be slightly elevated at one end, and then
subjected to a shower of water out of a very fine
garden syringe, or it may be put cut under a soft
rain. After these valleys, due to cracks, are sub-
jected to "rain and rivers," regular river-sj^stems
will form, valleys with sloping sides will gradually
be developed, while at the junction of two or more
cracks there will be minute lakes in typical rock-
basins. Moreover, in some valleys there will be
long narrow lakes, similar to the loughs so common
in mountain glens. Various other phenomena may
be studied in this simple experiment, but at present
I only wish to draw attention to the connection
between systems of cracks and rivcr-vallevs. The
thicker the coat of plaster the more marked the
results ; and the experiment may be varied by
spreading the plaster in layers, and not in one thick

coat. G. II. KiNAHAN.

NEW BOOKS.

nnilERE are few sciences which liave made more
J- rapid strides than those of geology, electricity,
and magnetism. The latter subjects lie some\vht,t
out of our usual lino, but we are nevertheless glad
to have the opportunity of recommending to such
of our readers as r,rc interested in these important
sciences, or who wish to know something about

them ; a book* which has been before the world for
more than twenty years, has done great good during
that time, and has now reappeared in an enlarged
and revised form, under the able editorship of
Professor Noad. This little work impresses us as
being exactly the kind of book to put into the
hands of a youth interested in magnetic and elec-
trical science. It includes the history of discovery
in these departments, more particularly a lucid
summary of the researches of Faraday and others.
The clear and attractive style in which it is written
and edited shows that both author and editor are
fully en rapport with their readers^

The next workf is more in our line. We have
frecpiently been asked to recommend a good work
on elementary geology, and have found a difiiculty
in doing so. Scientific writers are apt to take too
much for granted on th-3 part of tlieir readers, and
we think that even Mr. Tate is not altogether free
from this common error. But it is, in our opinion,
the best of its class, whilst its price will bring it
within the reach of the poorest student's slender
pocket. This book is partly based on the well-
known rudimentary treatise on geology by Major-
General Portlock, originally published in Weale's
series. The additions, however, and especially the
number of illustrations, have made quite a new
book of it. We like the author's arrangement, and
especially the clear and unbiassed manner with
which he has placed before his readers the views of
diiferent geologists on moot questions. If any-
thing, the work is too full, and the reader is apt to
be bewildered by the number of subjects brought
before him, and the haste with which the limited
space obliges the author to pass over them.

The next worksj are all pretty much of the same
cliaracter— that is, they have a kind of scientific
basis, which serves for the books pretty much as a
text does to a sermon. The latter is frequently
taken by the preacher, and there is an end of it. The
two first books are marked chiefly by rhapsody. They
contain many fine passages, and some suggestive
ones. The reader, however, cannot get away from
the feeling that everything is being strained to the
utmost. The views of Michelet, who is a disciple
of the Eourier school, are now pretty well known
in England. Regarding the earth as herself an
animate being, whose natural phenomena are but
the expressions of her varied life, it is not dilEcuIt

• "Rudimentary Magnetism." By Sir W. Snow Harris,
F.R.S., ^c. Revised and enlarg'ed by Dr. IT. M. Noad, F.R.S.
Lockwood & Co., Londcn.

t "Historical Geology." By Ralpli Tate, r.G.S., &c.
London: Locltwood & Co. I8"l.

% " Tiie Mountain," from the French of Michelet. By the
Translator of " The Bird . "

"Nature; or, the Poetry of Earth and Sea." From the
French of Madame Michelet.

" Beautiful Birds in far-off Lands ; their Haunts and
Homes." By Mary and Elizabeth Kirby. London : T. Nel-
son & Sons.

HAllDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP,

35

to see that many of them must be viewed from au
original stand-point. The descriptions of moun-
tain scenery are, apart from the singularity of these
views, very graphic, and the illustrations, both in
the " Mountain" and " Nature," of the most superb
character. The translations by Mr. Adams are
clear and readable, considering that he had a diffi-
cult task before him. As books to place on a
drawing-room table, to be taken up for a few
minutes, and admired (not studied), we know few
more suitable tlian those we have just mentioned.
To "Beautiful Birds," a good many of the
foregoing remarks equally apply. The style is
clearer, and less rhapsodical. In fact, many por-
tions of the book are most attractively written.
The illustrations (printed in oil-colours) arc of
the very finest we have seen. Altogether the
work is got up in such a tasteful style that it
must take a leading place among gift-books. It
is hardly scientific, although its subject is so ;
but it brackets, so to speak, the purely literary
with the technical, and includes, in a happy man-
ner, a good deal of what is known about the
most beautiful of foreign birds, interwoven here
and there with a little of the apocryphal.

MOSSES ABOUT LONDON.

TN accordance with a rule laid down some time
-*- ago, among other restrictions which space en-
forces, is that of foregoing the temptation to give
lists of plants, insects, shells, &c. The extended
circulation of Science-Gossip renders this injunc-
tion necessary, inasmuch as the plants, &c., cata-
logued ia any one district cannot have any great
interest for people at a distance. It was owing to
the prizes oifered to collectors, that we last month
gave the list of mosses in the neighbourhood of
London, thinking so far to aid our metropolitan
readers. For the same reason we have the pleasure
of adding the following from Dr. Capron : —

In addition to the species mentioned in the paper
by Mr. T. Howes, the following mosses, not usually
met with, may be found in the vicinity of Dorking.
Gomshall, and Sheire : —

Hypnum delicatuluni ; H. exanulatum ; H. irri-
guum ; H. loreum ; H. Megapolitanum ; H. pohj-
morphum ; U. straminetcm ; Leptoion Smithii ;
Neckera crispa ; N. pumila ; OrthotricJium anoma-
lum ; 0. Bruchli ; 0. pulchellum ; 0. stramineum ;
O. tenellum ; Pterogonium gracile ; Schistostega
pennata; Seligeria calcarea ; Splachnum ampmllu-
ceiim (Leith Hill) ; Torhda vinealis ; T. Hortischuc-
liiana ; T. cunelfolia ; T. marginata ; T. latifolia ;
Trichostomum crispidum ; Tetrap)lus pellucida ;
Leptobrpum pyrif'orme.

Many of these are necessarily only found in small
quantity, and must be looked for at their proper

season, and I only give them to show that much
may be done within so short a distance from
London.
Sheire. E. Capron, M.D.

THE GLASS- ROPE SPONGE.

Uyalonema mirabUis (Gray).
By p. Kitton.

"We now proceed to speak of the nature of animals, not
willingly omitting any part, however mean it may appear ;
for though many things among them have no charms for the
bodily senses, yet, notwithstanding, even there creative na-
ture has unspeakable delights in store for those philosophic
muids whicli can investigate and distinguish the cause of
their formation. . . .- . We must enter on the investigation of
each individual without any feeling of disgust, inasmuch as
in every one some bjeautiful provision o£ nature exists." —
Aristotle..

rpHE common notion of a sponge is generally
-■- derived from the substance used for domestic
purposes. The sponge of which I am about to
give a brief description would, therefore, never be
recognized by the popular mind as related t© the
sponge of commerce, nevertheless such is un-
doubtedly the fact. The simple sarcodous substance,
which in one case weaves a soft leather-like reticu-
lated structure, in the other elaborates a siliceous
skeleton composed of spicula of varied size and
outline, some like long threads of spun glass a foot
or more in length, whilst others do not exceed the
thousandth of an inch.

The Eyalonema, or " Glass-rope " sponge, was
formerly supposed to belong to a class of organisms
called Axiferous Zoophytes, or Barked Corals. The
" Glass-rope," with its " warty bark," was supposed
to have been distinct from the sponge-like mass
forming the base in which it appeared to grow.
Dr. Gray describes it as having a siliceous axis.
" The axis is formed of many twisted fibres, and
its lower end, instead of being expanded, is gradually
tapering and is parasitically imbedded in a fixed
sponge. " "The part above the base is in dif-
ferent specimens covered, to a greater or less extent
(and evidently in the perfect state is entirely), with
a kind of leathery bark, with large truncated nip-
ple-shaped scattered tubercles, having flat crowns
with radiating grooves and a central depression."
In general the specimens are withdrawn and cleaned
from the spongy base, and the lower axis is cleaned ;
but I think it is evident that they all are attached
to such a sponge in their natural state.

Tiie bark is formed of two distinct layers; the outer
having the appearance of an aggregation of grains of
sand united together by a small quantity of animal
matter ; the inner having imbedded in its substance
numerous very fine capillary fibres, of precisely
similar textia-e to those which form the axis of the
coral, but of much smaller size ; and this portion of

36

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE-GO S S IP.

tbe bark evidently extends between- and invests
each of tbe fibres of the rope-like axis,

Dr.Gray's description is exact so far as the external
appearance of the sponge is concerned, but his
surmise that the so-called spongy base is a distinct
organism, recent observations have proved to be in-
correct. This basal portion is an integral portion
of the sponge, and, when growing, is uppermost, the

il

rig. 20.

IB^

Fig. 19. hyalonema mirabilis, 5 nat. size.

Fig. 21.

long fibres being buried in the ooze, as in tlie allied
forms Fharonema {Holtenia) Carpenteri and P.
Grayi, (See Monthly Microscopic Journal, vol. iii.,
for a most interesting paper on theseand other nearly
allied forms, by W. S. Kent, T.Z.S., F.RM.S.)

The earliest known specimens of this sponge
were from Japan, but witliin the last few years
other habitats have been discovered. Professor
Perceval Wright found it in situ in Sctubal, off the
coast of Portugal, in 18G8, obtaining many Cue

specimens from that locality, and had the oppor-
tunity of examining them whilst alive. He states
that the siliceous stem is truly a part of the sponge-
mass, and that the "Polythoa" (bark) was simply
parasitic upon the stem. Some of the Setubal
specimens were very large, the stems of several
measuring nearly two feet in length, and the head
consisting of a somewhat oval mass, about eight
inches in the long and four inches in the short
diameter. On opening out the sponge, the interior
concave surface was found to be lined with a
delicate network of spicules and sarcode ; a number
of large openings {oscula) were also seen, and these
were covered with a network of sarcode, the edges
of the meshes thickly covered with spicules, called
by Dr. Bowerbank " spiculate cruciform spicules "
(fig. 28). The professor then goes on to say that
he " has seen the parasitic Polythoa in a living state
on the siliceous axis of the Hyalonema, and that
he watched the polyps expand their tentacles, after
the fashion of any other zoautharian, to prove that,
though they have mouths, these mouths are their
own, and not at the service, directly or indirectly,
of the Hyalonema." Dr. Bowerbank is, liow-
ever, of opinion that the Polythoa is a portion
of the sponge, and not parasitic. The evidences
in favour of the latter supposition are (at least
so far as I have been able to ascertain), firstly,
that the Glass-rope has never been found without
the "bark;" secondly, the spicules are siliceous
(in all other spicule-beariug species of Polythoa
they are calcareous) ; and that some of them are
common to every portion of the sponge ; neither
am I aware that the Polythoa has ever been found
investing any other organism.

The spicules in this sponge are perhaps more
beautiful and varied than in any other sponge
hitherto discovered. In describing these forms I have
adopted the terminology used by Dr. Bowerbank
in his work on the British Spongiadce.

Pig. 19 represents the sponge slightly reduced in
sizo.

Pig. 20. — A portion of one of the fibres, auchoriug-
spicules, of the " Glass-rope," showing its lami-
nated structure, and a transverse section of same,
showing mode of growth. The primary fibre is in-
vested with the sarcodous material : this secretes a
siliceous casing, which again becomes covered with
sarcode, the process being indefinitely repeated ;
X 400,

Pig. 21. — Bi-clavatc, cylindrical, the shaft slightly
curved, attenuated below ; the obtuse spiculate
ends gradually increasing towards the somewhat
turgid centre ; common in the coriaceous envelope
(Polythoa); x 200,

Pig. 22.— Attenuated rcctangulated hcxradiate
spicule, common in all parts of the sponge ; x 200.

Pig. 23. — Cylindro-cruciform, shafts smooth, the
ends spiculate ; x 200.

IIAIIDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

Fig. 24. — Cyliiidro-cruciform ; shafts densely spi-
culate.

Tig. 25— Spined, cylindrical, x 200 : 22, 23, 21,
and 25 are found in abundance in the coriaceous
sbeath (Polythoa), less plentifully in the inter-
stices of fibrous axis, and very rare in the body of
the sponge.

Fig. 26.— Multi-hamate, bi-rotulate ; shaft cylin-
drical, slight, papillate ; x GO.

Fig. 22.

showing stellate

rig. 27.— Side view of ditto,
arrangement of the hooks.

Fig. 28. — Abnormal form of the above, x 100.

Fig. 29. — Spiculated cruciform spiculum, as-
sociated with the above in the body of the sponge,
and the interstices of the fibrous axis ; x 200.

Fig. 23.

Fig. 30. — Simple, bi-hamate, acerate, having each
end of the spiculum curved in the form of a hook ;
X 400 ; very rare.

Fig. 31. — Quadri-hamate ; common in the body of
the sponge ; x 1,000.

The above do not comprise all the forms of
spicula to be found in this remarkable sponge.
Professor Thomson has taken a great number of

specimens, and his promised memoir on this genus
is anxiously looked for.

Fig. 1i.

Since writing the above, I have had the oppor-
tunity of examining a series of specimens belonging
to the Rev. J. Crompton, of Norwich. Three of them
were of considerable interest, as throwing light

U-'

Fig. 25.

Fig. 26.

upon the parasitic nature of the Polythoa. One of
the specimens was almost entirely divested of the
parasite, but near the top was a small piece of some

frondose alga, attached, or rather entangled, round
the Glass-rope by several tendril-like filaments.

38

llARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

The surface of the fragment is covered with the
Polythoa, identically the same as that found invest-
ing the " rope." The other two'spccimeiis are still

Fig. 28.

more remarkable : the Polythoa covers the rope, but
beneath it may be seen in one specimen a piece of
fine twine, and in the other a piece of blue paper or
cloth. The twine and paper had evidently been
wound round the rope in order to keep the filaments

Fig. 29.

Fig. 3\

Fig. 31.

together, and the Polythoa (apparently atl ached to
some riband-like alga about tiiree-quarlers of rai
inch in width), wound round afterwards. This was
probably done by some of the Japanese fishermen
who dredged up the specimen.*

"Among earth's 'things of loveliness' we recog-
nize two as perfect and peerless : ia the Lake of
Geneva, the Beautiful— a noble and exalted liar-
mony; in the Lake of Lucerne, the Sublime." —
" The Mountahiy from the French of Michelet.

* Specimens of figs. 24 and 28 may be obtained from Mr.
Chas. Baker, 2+4, Higli Holboni.

THE POOD OP BEES.

Tl'AYING only recently returned to England,
■*--•- after a residence of some years in Prance,
and wisliing to make myself up to the mark in
British Katural History, I have borrowed Science-
Gossip for 1S70, in which I observe there is a
controversy as to the food of bees in their separate
journeys. Not being a bee-keeper, I cannot con-
tribute any information on this point, but I think
it may be interesting to the curious on the subject
of the food of bees to learn that in Prance there are
no greater pests to the fruit-garden, especially to
the grapes, than the common honey-bees. They
are not content with levying a very handsome tithe,
but two successive years they devoured four-fifths
of my crop, besides attacking all the best of my
pears and apples. In short, they are much worse
than the wasps, as these are not abundant and
troublesome every year as the bees are.

Now, as under the Prench paternal government
bees are not allowed to be kept in towns for fear of
their stings, it seemed to me to be hard lines for us
townspeople to be obliged to keep bees for the
peasants without any safeguard for our fingers from
these poaching insects ; raid therefore, tiiinkiug
that paternal government did not go quite far
enough in this matter, I ventured to propose at one
of the m-eetings of the Linusean Socdety of Nor-
mandy, at Caen, that we should petition the proper
minister for a decree that every bee-master should
be obliged to have a flower-garden for his bees, it
being the fact that, as a rule, no flowers are growu
except in or near towns — not any in the villages —
and that the bees, having no food after the seed-
clover is cut, flock to the towns to feed upon the
grapes and other fruits then ripening.

My proposition, as you may suppose, only created
a general smile at my greenness in supposing that
a body like the Linnaan Society of Normandy, high
as it stands in science, could have the slightest
influence with an Imperial minister. While upon
the subject of Prench societies, I may mention that,
having lost my crop of potatoes by the cockchafer
grub, and knowing that the paternal government
had offered rewards for the best mode of preventing
their ravages, I proposed, in another society of
which I was a member, that a committee should bo
formed to consider the subject. This was done in
the montli of November, and a report was made in
July of the sccor:d year following, when I had again
lost my crop each season, the main recommendation
of the report being that during the season of the
perfect insects tliey should be caught and thrown
into boiling water I Advice very similar in kind to
the celebrated method of destroying fleas ; only tliis
was in the dry, while the former was in the wet form.*

* It isafactthat maiiy Frenclivillagersliave never seen boil-
ing water, t'.eir only vessel being the sonp-kettle; and if you
want an aiif a la cuque it is simine.-cd, not boiled, iu tlie souii.

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE-G OSSIP.

39

Another word, to conclude the subject of cock-
chafers. M. le Marchant, a pharmacieu at Caen,
has made many experiments on the tenacity of life
in the Cockchafer when apparently drowned, and
he has found that after complete immersion for a
considerable period, till decomposition has begun,
if taken out of the water and exposed to light and
air, they have still shown signs of life.

T. Ogin Wakd, M.D., Oxon.

CLEANING SKELETONS.

HAVING read Mr. A. C. Haddon's receipt
for cleaning skeletons in Science-Gossip,
p. 23, I write to state why I consider it a metliod
which no true osteologist would ever think of
using. Lime ruins bones for scientific purposes.
It tones down all the sharp edges, modifies the pro-
tuberances, and makes undefined tliose peculiarities
v/hich, though minute, are nevertheless of the
utmost importance in comparing one skeleton with
another. Though Mr. Haddon is so far right in
saying that lime will bleach the bones, I am also
convinced that when they are bleached in the sun,
they not only remain uninjured, but also gain a far
richer acd purer colour. I have dug up bones that
have lain for some time buried in the ground, when
they have been at first of an unsightly brown or
even deep black hue ; but by exposing them for a
time in the air, on a stone terrace facing the south,
most of them have been brought to a pitch of almost
ivory whiteness. Mr. Haddon also remarks that
lime preserves the ligaments. I am not clear how
far this is an advantage. Eor purposes of study,
the bones should not be all connected, as it precludes
the proper examination of the articulations. I have
generally found it preferable to have the skull and
all the limbs disconnected from the trunk, and the
component bones of the limbs of one side all
separated from each other. If it should be desired
to preserve the whole skeleton intact, it is almost
as easy, with a little care and attention, to do so with
great perfection, either by letting the flesh quietly
rot off, or by the maceration in water and blood ; for
the flesh will of course decay before the harder and
tough ligaments. Maceration is best if expedition
is required, since it will prepare an ordiuaiy-sized
specimen in about a fortnight, if most of the flesh
is first removed. When time is no object, the
process of simple decomposition is the least trouble.
A small pit should be excavated, provided with
rough shelves, roofed in, with steps leading down
to it, and protected from the intrusion of animals.
On these shelves the specimens may quietly be left
to rot, if they are looked at from time to time.
What odour there is, rises but little above the
surface of the ground, and is rapidly blown away.
In the summer the maggots increase to such an

extent, that a specimen is sucked clean with im-
mense rapidity, and at all seasons the work is much
assisted by divers predacious insects. I liave many
bones prepared in this way,, in as beautiful a con-
dition as 0!ie could wish to see, and with this
additional satisfaction, that every groove and every
prominence is as clear and sharp as it ever was in
the living animal. I am well aware how freely
dealers use lime in preparing their bones for sale,
and I have often had [cause to lament that bones
which I have purchased should have had their real
beauty .taken away and much of their value de-
stroyed, through the ignorance of the person who
prepared them. A very weak solution of lime is
sometimes necessary to dry those bones in which
there is an unusual quantity of oil. This is the
only case in which it can be recommended. Sup-
posing all the bones of a small specimen should
chance to be entirely separated, as you clean each,
bone lay it aside in its proper relative position.
They then can all be fastened on to a slab of wood,
by pins stuck on each side of them and wedging
them tight. The vertebrae should be threaded on a
fine stick. This method takes care and time, but
the result is very satisfactory. Whatever bone
chances to be required, can be set free in an instant
by the removal of two or three pins, and it can be
as readily replaced.

Edwakd Eentoue Elvitin.
. Booton, Norwich.

LAW TO PROTECT CURIOUS ANIMALS.

WILL you pennit me to say that if in my
earnestness to protect some of our useful,
curious, or ornamental little creatures from being
exterminated, I may have hurt the feelings of any
of your correspondents, I much regret it ? I like
also.to set myself right on another point. As these
creatures are mostly designated " vermin " by pre-
servers of game, I may be suspected of being un-
friendly to protective laws ; on the contrary, I be-
lieve if the Legislature, yielding to a pressure from
those who have no game to preserve, were to lessen
that protection, it would be a mistake ; I would
rather see it extended to those occasionel visitors
who every now and then endeavour to re-establish
themselves in these islands'; viz.. Bustards, Sand-
Grouse, Hoopoes, Waxen Chatterers, and such-like,
which are instantly shot down by so-called natu-
ralists, either for the sale of their stuffed skins or
to gratify a morbid ambition.

Many of our creatures are nearly gone, — the
Chough, the Badger, the Dabchick, the Hooting or
brown Owl. The destructiveness, if any, of tliis
latter creature is much overrated. I have had them
perfectly tame, going where they would to seek their
food, and returning to my shelter, and I do not

40

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE- GOSSIP.

recollect seeing anything like feathers in their pel-
lets, but only beetles' wings and other insect re"
mains. Even in the colonies, if the curious and very
helpless creatures could be made a sort of royal
game, it would be very desirable. It is much to be
feared that in very few years' time the Platypus, the
Apterix, and other marvels of those lands, will fol-
low the fate of the Great A uk, the Dodo, the Dinor-
nis, and the Moa. It is a question how far man has
a right to exterminate every or any race of God's
creatures that may be supposed to lessen the in-
crease of another. Geouge Cox.

BOTANY.

Poisoning Dkied Plants. — It is commonly
recommended to wash specimens for the herbarium
with a solution of corrosive sublimate. Is this
really necessary ? I have never used any poisoning
process at all ; and though I have many specimens
in my herbarium which have been there for thirty
years, I have never been troubled with either mould
or insects. My plants have not been particularly
well cared for : during one period of ten years they
were pretty much their own guardians. Neither
camphor nor any other perfume has protected them ;
they have accompanied me in half a dozen changes
of residence, yet they remain safe and whole, and
show no signs of ruin. The only circumstance which
I know of in their favour is, that they have been
kept in closed boxes — not air-tight, however. Now
if my plants have been kept so well under such
conditions, without poisoning, where is the necessity
for that troublesome and rather dangerous process ?
Will some of your correspondents tell us their
experience in the matter ? — F. T. Moil, Leicester.

ZOOLOGY.

Death's-head Hawk-moth.— Superstition has
been particularly active in suggesting causes of
alarm from the insect world ; and where man should
have seen only beauty and wisdom, he has often
found terror and dismay. The yellow and brown-
tail moths, the death-watch, and many others, have
all been the subjects of his fears. Butthe dread
excited in England by the appearance, noises, or
increase of insects are petty apprehensions when
compared with the horror that the presence of the
Acherontia occasions to some of the more super-
stitious natives of Northern Europe. A letter is
now before me from a correspondent in German
Poland, where this insect is a common crea-
ture, and so abounded in 1829 that my informant
collected fifty of them in the potato-fields of
his village, where they call them the " Deatli's-
hcad Phantom," the "Wandering Death-bird,"
&c. The markings on its back represent to their
fertile imaginations the head of a perfect skeleton.

with the limb bones crossed beneath. Its cry
becomes the voice of anguish, the moaning of
a child, the signal of grief. It is regarded
not as the creation of a benevolent Peing, but
the device of evil spirits, enemies to man, con-
ceived and fabricated in the dark; and the very
shining of its eyes is thought to represent the fiery
element whence it is supposed to have proceeded .
Plying into their apartments in the evening, it at
times extinguishes the light, foretelling war, pes-
tilence, hunger, "death, to man and beast. — Journal
of a Naturalist.

Dk. Knaggs describes, in the Entomologist's
Monthly Magazine for January, a species of Noctua
{Agrotls helvetina) new to Britain. Several specimens
were captured in the middle of November last, near
Derby. This is a rare species abroad, but has been
known to occur in Germany, Prance, Switzerland,
&c. The larva is unknown.

New Species of Rail. — The President of the
Zoological Society describes a new species of Rail,
to which he has given the name of Porzana bicolor,
in the January number of the Magazine of Natural
History. Its colour is chiefly grey, especially on
the lower parts of the body, the upper being
ferruginous-olive and dark slate-colour. It was
shot at Rungbee, Darjeeling.

Blind Animals of the Kentucky Mammoth
Cave. — In the American Naturalist for December
last, there is given a lengthy and interesting descrip-
tion of the various creatures found living within this
famous cavern. The fishes, all of which are blind,
will be described in a future number. One beetle
{Anopthalmus) was totally blind, and in another
{Adelops) there were only pale spots, or rudimentary
eyes. A wingless grasshopper (Rhaphidophord) was
fou)id jumping about with great alacrity. A species
of Campodea was also discovered hiding under
stones in damp places, and this too was eyeless. A
small spider, white and very small, was in the same
condition. The " Harvestmen " were represented
by a species {Acanthocheir armatd), also white, and
equally blind. A myriapod was found having
rudimentary eyes. Most interesting, however, are
the blind crawfish {Camharus j)ellucidus'), in which
the eyes are rudimentary in the adults, but much
larger in the young. The writers think that tliis is
an evidence that the inheritance of the blind con-
dition is probably due to causes first acting on the
adults and transmitted to the young, ending iu the
production of offspring that becomes blind through
habit. The strangest of those eyeless creatures
mentioned, is, perhaps, an isopod {Ccecidota) , inas-
much as it is nearly allied to species in the Austrian
caves, which are in a similar condition.

The Liver. — In reply to " Inquirer," in your
January number, I beg to say that the sketch here-

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

41

with, from a'copy of a seal of tl:e borough of Liver-
pool, of , early .date (circ. 1350), appears to supply
the'information requested. The device is the Eagle
of St. John, the label.held in its foot being inscribed
with the name Iohes. , In the beak is a conven-
tional leaf or flower, which T believe is copied as a
seaweed in the recent rendering of the bird. If the
original is^uot much_like a living bird, it will still

MICROSCOPY.

Tjest Scales. — In answer to your correspondent
" S. L. B." I can assure him that the " test scale "
to which he refers is obtained from Lepidocyrtus,
and from an insect, eutomologically speaking, exactly
coinciding with L. curvicollis. I can also assure him
that no amount of age will develop the " test

Fig. 32. Ancient Seal of the Borough of Liverpool (circa 135C).

be found to retain so intermediate a position' be-
tween the natural and heraldic forms as to require
but'a very small stretch of imagination on the part
of " Inquirer " to trace the descent. 1 am aware
that to account for the name of the town an imagi-
nary bird, the Liver, has been suggested, and the
Cormorant and Ibis have been severally assumed
to be the prototype of the Liver. But the Cormo-
rant is too common a bird to have attracted atten-
tion there; and the occurrence of the Ibis cannot,
I fear, be proved to have been observed in either
Lancashire or Cheshire. — T. G. Bayfield.

The Liver (p. 22).— The bird figured in the
armorial bearings of the town of Liverpool, accord-
ing to Burke, is a cormorant, holding " in his beak
a sprig of laver, vert." The word " laver " is a
common synonym for " ze^-wrack" but most gene-
rally applied to the " Porphyra," a genus of seaweed
sometimes prepared as a condiment ; but the green
laver (vert) is Ulva latissima, a species of algce with
very large fronds. I have no doubt that this (aver,
taken with reference to the "Porphyra," has ori-
ginated the idea of a /?fer-coloured bird, that finds
such favour with certain etymologists ; but it is
hardly fair to argue seriously about heraldic animals.
The cockatrice, the dragon, and the wyvern have
long since been consigned to the regions of fable ;
and the real royal Li-Ver, whether we may suppose
it should resemble a cormorant, a crane, or a heron,
is equally fanciful.— Jf. Hall.

scale " upon the ordinary L. cnrvicoUis. The habi-
tats of the two insects are different ; I have found
both, and last autumn mounted a large num-
ber of "test scales," any of which will, I doubt
not, convince "S. L. B." that they are not of the
ordinary YmA.— Joseph Beck.

Eecent Fokmation of Flint.- In a sounding
made by Capt. J. Perry, of Liverpool, at Porto
Seguro, Brazil, mixed with some rare and curious
diatomaceous forms, may be found several species
of Poraminif'era and Entomostraca. The addition of
nitric acid for the purpose of cleaning and preparing
this material for mounting has brought to light the
very interesting fact, that many of the chambers of
the shells of the Foraminifera, and, in some cases,
the carapaces of Entomostraca, were filled with
silex, bearing considerable resemblance to or-
dinary flint. The recent siliceous casts of Fora-
minifera hitherto detected have all been of a dark
green colour, resembling the foraminiferous casts
found in the greensand. Tlie forms found in the
Porto Seguro material were Orbitolites, Miliola,
and Rotalina.— i^. K.

Eels in Paste.— In the absence of other forms
of microscopic life during the chill, dark days of
winter, the young microscopist will find both in-
struction and amusement in studying the develop-
ment of the so-called "paste-eds" ; and the fol-
lowing hints as to the method of obtaining them

4-2

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

may therefore be of service. The paste must con-
sist of flour and water only. The pastes sold in
sliops usually contain resin — tliis is fatal to the
production of the "eels." The paste should be
made thick, and boiled ; when cold it should be well
stirred and beaten with a wooden spoon, and this
process must be repealed daily to prevent the
growth of mould ; it is necessary, however, to
examine a portion, to ascertain if it contains eels.
In warm weather a few da.vs will generally produce
a plentiful supply ; in cold M^ather a longer time is
necessary. If the paste is too thin, they will creep
up the sides of the vessel, and it will be necessary
to place them on some thicker paste. The young
eels exhibit very faint traces of internal structure,
but as they increase in size the mouth and alimen-
tary canal may easily be seen ; and in the mature
forms the embryo young may be detected coiled up
within. The only preparation necessary for ob-
serving these forms is to place a little of the paste
in a little clean water, either in the live-box or on
an ordinary glass slip, and cover it with a piece of
thin ghiss. These animalcules may be kept for
years if a little fresh paste is occasionally added, —

'f.k.

The Maeki.vgs on the Battledoue Scales of
PoLYOMMATus Alexis. — In a paper read before
the Koyal Microscopic Society, Dae. G, 1S71, by
Dr. J. Antlion}^, the author states he had long felt
assured that the ordinary coarse representations of
the battledore scales were most imperfect and erro-
neous, and he had therefore proceeded to examine,
under various conditions, of and with the best
optical appliances. His observations extended over
scleral months, aad after the elimination of all pro-
bable sources of error, lie has satisfied himself that
the remarkable structures exliibited by these scales
were not in accordance with the usual representa-
tions of them. The objectives used were an eighth
and twelfth ; with these powers, and light free from
all obliquity, he observed the dots on tlie ribs of the
scale bore considerable resemblance to the glands
on Anagallis [as represented in tlie author's figures,
they bear no inconsiderable resemblance to dumb-
bells]. As the columns arc perpendicular to the
plane of the scale, the head column and base arc in
the same axial direction, and it is therefore neces-
sary to find a scale slightly Jilted up or doubled over
to detect the true nature of the dots. Tlie author's
observations are illustrated by two whole-page
plates of figures. — ILordhly Microscopical Journal,
January, 1872.

Pleukosigiia. — At the November meeting of the
East Kent Natural History Society, Col. Horsly
continued his experiments on the effects of diiFerent
modes of illumination, especially as regards the
appearance of the lines or markings on the valves

of Vleuros'ujma angulatiim, P. quadratum, and P. Hip-
pocampus, usiug a }-inch objective and transmitted
light. The results were so remarkable as to throw
doubts on the taxonomic value of the current
description of tlie direction of those markings. Thus
in the two former species the markings appeared
either transverse or oblique, according to the direc-
tion of the light (or rather according to the position
of valve). In P. Hippocampus the lines always
appeared longitudinal and transverse. This appa-
rently optical deception admits of a very simple
explanation — those forms with oblique striation,
the second row of dots mocking the first ; thus.

If a valve is nearly at right angles to the

illuminating pencil, the lines appear oblique ; if in
the same direction as the ray, they appear trans-
verse. P. Hippocampus, and all forms described as
having longitudinal and transverse strias, have the

dots arranged in this manner, ; and, ol;

course, the strise, from whatever direction they
receive the illuminating ray, can never appear
oblique. The ease with which the transverse or
longitudinal lines are resolved depends upon the
closeness of the dots ; if they are closer in a trans-
verse direction, the longitudinal strife are more
easily seen ; if in a longitudinal direction, then the
transverse striae are more easily seen. — P. K.

"There is a special provision made by Nature
for the Mangrove. The seed drops at the proper
season, and is in danger of being carried away by
the stream from the muddy bank on which alone it
could grow ; but it is possessed of a small rootlet,
by which it can attach itself at once to the swampy
ground, and remain there at security. These root-
lets are put forth, and the stem gradually rises up
from the midst, and another mangrove is added to
the great belt of trees that lines the bank." —
"Beautiful Birds in Far- ojf Lands."

"In the sunny regions of the tropics, Nature
seems to preserve her freshness and beauty without
interruption. There are no chilling winds or nip-
ping frosis to scatter the foliage of the forest. As
one leaf witliers another takes its place, so that the
green canopy is always full and compact. There is
neither autumn nor winter, but peiiDctual summer
reigns." — ^' Beautiful Birds in Far-off Lands."

"It becomes possible for us to determine, through
comparison with those animals with whicJi we are
already acquainted, the homes or abodes of species
yet unknown to us, or, by means of an exact know-
ledge of its locality, to determine in prospective the
form and colour of a species."— ".ffzVc? Life" by
Dr. Brchm.

HAflDWlCKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

43

GEOLOGY.

Cretaceous Reptiles. — In the American Natu-
ralist for December, Professor Cope gives a vivid
dcscriptiou of a geological expedition to Kansas, to
explore the cretaceous strata. The account of nearlj'
entire skeletons of extinct reptiles met with is most
intei'esiing. Among theiu were brouglit to light —
the bones of pterodactyle, two species of Clidastesi
a diuosaurian, a crocodile, aud various species
of fish ; all new to science. One veiy large fish is
described, furnished with a powerful dentition;
which has been named Fortlieus molossus. This
seems to have been very abundant in that part of
the cretaceous sea, and to have been as much the
dread of its contemporaries as the smaller saurians.
One singular reptile was discovered, having affinities
to the Turtle family. If such was the case, thg
remains indicate a total expanse of twenty feet.
This animal has been named Protodega gigas. A
large Clidastes was also discovered, whose skeleton
was forty feet in length. Some of the reptiles
mentioned, such as Lnodon dyspeJor, a new species,
are said to exceed in length the dimensions of any
known reptile.

New Species o? Fossil CopvAL.— Mr. Vicary,
of Exeter, has just described a new species of fossil
coral, allied to ilertiliiia, in the upper greensand
which caps the new red sandstone about five miles
to the south-west of Exeter. Ho regards this as
probably supplying a link between past and present
forms of corals.

Tkilobiies. — Professor Van Eeneden has re-
cently read a paper on the systematic position of the
King Crabs and Trilobites, in which he says that
the analogy between the LiiuuU and the Trilobites,
and the affinity which connects these two groups,
cannot be doubted by any one who has studied the
embryonic development of the former. He states
that tlie Trilobites must be separated from the Crus-
tacea, and form, with the Scorpions and other
Arachiida, a distinct branch, the origin of which
has still to be ascertained. There can now be little
doubt that the Trilobites had articulated legs, like
those of the Limuii.

Origin of Ameer. — Professor Zuddach shows
that the trees which yielded the amber must have
grown upon tlie greensand beds of the Cretaceous
period, flourishing luxuriantly on the marshy coast
wliicb then surrounded the great continent of
Northern Europe. Probably the temperature was
then much higher than it is now; and this even at
that epoch extended to the now frost-bound Arctic
regions, a fact which has been proved by the remark-
able plant-remains of temperate climes which have

been recently discovered there. The amber flora
of the Baltic ai-ea under review contains northern
forms associated with plants of more temperate
zones; and thus cainphor-trees {Ciniiardonmm) occur
Mitii willows, birches, beech, and numerous oaks.
A species of Thuya, very similar to the American
Tliuiia occideiitalis, is the most abundant tree
amongst the conifers ; next in abundance Widdrmg-
lonia, a great variety of pines and firs, including
the amber pine : thousands of these, it is supposed
by the professor, might have perished, and while
the wood decayed, the resin with which the stem and
branches were loaded might have been accumulated
in large quantities, in bogs and lakes, in the soil of
the forest. If the coast at that time was gradually
sinking, the sea would cover the land, and in due
course carry away the amber and masses of vegeta-
ble detritus into the ocean, where it was deposited
amidst the marine animals which inhabit it. But in
higher districts the amber pines would still flourish,
aud so amber still continue to be washed into the
sea, and deposited in the later formed greensand,
aud still later overlying formation of the " brown
coal."

The OraGijf oe Plants.— Messrs. Hall &Daua
have recently shown that during the earlier part of
the Upper Silui'iau period North America was
covered by a great internal ocean. At the begin-
ning of the Devonian period a slow and gradual
emergence commenced, and eventually the dry land
was covered with a peculiar and abundant flora.
One genus of plants, Psilophyton, is common to
Germany, England, and North America. The com-
parison of fossil plants of the Devonian rocks of
Europe aud Canada is very difficult, on accourit of
their having so limited an area in the former con-
tinent. The above authors believe that acrogenous
plants alli;'d to the Club-mosses, and perhaps such
simple forms as Eophjton, extended back to the
Primordial period, and that we may look for the
actual origin of land-vegetation in the Laurentian
epoch. ' The plants of the Lower and Middle
Devonian are supposed to have*, the aspect of the
remains of a decaying flora verging on extinction ;
whilst in the Upper beds there appear a great
number of forms which afterwards were domi-
nant.

A CORRESPONDENT iu the Standard has given an
account of a fine specimen of ichthyosaurus recently
found at Charmouth, Dorset. Its length was six
feet, the orbits of the eyes being seven inches in
diameter. Within the pelvic cavities of this indivi-
dual were tlie fossil skeletons of four young ichthyo-
sauri. This circumstance of the female ichthyosau-
rus being found fossilized with the fcetus in situ is
not new, and from it is deduced the conclusion
that they were viviparous.

44

HARUWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

NOTES AND aUERIES.

White Ants. — A friend of mine has his house
infested by small white ants. Can any of your
readers inform me how they can be got rid of? —
P. W. Rogers.

Whitebait. — A good suggestion has been made
by Mr. J. K. Lord, in Land and Water, to the effect
that an experiment should be made in the Crystal
Palace Aquaria whether all the fish called " white-
bait " grow up into herrings, sprats, shods, gobies,
smelts, &c.

Eauthtvoems.— In last month's Science-Gossip,
your correspondent E. P. P. wishes to know of more
authorities on the subject of worms. I find that
an anonymous writer in a series of papers in a
magazine of some few years back, gives the follow-
ing account of the comm.on earthworm. (He is talk-
ing about a man being pained by cutting the worms
in pieces with his spade.) "If some theories once
current had been correct, this severing the body
should have caused only the multiplication of the
individual ; for it was believed that each part con-
tained vitality, and became a perfect animal. The
progress of knowledge dissipated this idea, and esta-
blished the belief, that if an earthworm be cut in
two, only the piece which bore the head would be
found alive after the lapse of a few hours; that on
this segment a new tail would be gradually formed,
and all appearance of injury, in time, effaced. It
Avas also asserted, that 'if the division be made
near the head, the body will remain alive, and will
renew the head, and the head, with its few attached
segments will die.' " The statement that the head
will be thus renewed, has, however, been recently
called in question in A Report on the Structure,
Habits, and Classification of the British Annelidce,
by Dr. T. Williams. In this valuable communica-
tion it is stated, that "the views w^hich commonly
prevail with reference to the regenerative powers
of these animals are greatly exaggerated, if not
altogether incorrect. A true head is never repro-
duced. If a worm of any species, the Naisfiliforniis,
for example, upon which the principal of my obser-
vations have been instituted, be cut into two parts,
the anterior never reconstructs a true tail; nor does
the posterior ever re-organjze a true head; but both
fragments will live for a considerable time, and the
anterior extremity of the posterior fragment will
suck in nourishment, swell in size, and become
more vascular, while it preserves the distinctive
orgauization of one of the middle rings of the body.
It never re-forms a true head." — //. A. A.

Alauda akboeea. — How is it possible to de-
scribe this delightful bird, the Tree Pipit? The
months of song are IMay and June ; and if it be true
that the Cuckoo at this time sings night and day, it
is also certainly true that the Tree Pipit quite
makes up by day for the short rest it takes by
night. Por the complete enjoyment of this bird's
music, I will suppose the reader in a hay field, rcdo-
.lent with sweet clover and grasses, and the many
hundred odours of early summer. I would then
draw his attention to a little bird on the top of the
nearest tree, repeating three or four times in suc-
cession notes so like tliose of the canary, that it
would be quite excusable to mistake tiiem. He
will then notice the producer of those sounds shoot
suddenly upwards, like a sky-rocket, to the height
of a hundred feet or more, flutter its wings like a

wind-hovering kestrel, and so descend gently to the
top of another adjacent tree, uttering all the while
the softest cadence of half-notes it is possible to
imagine. After a short rest, there will be a repeti-
tion of the canary song, another successful ascent,
another quivering descent towards the top of the
first or some other tree hard by, ever warbling in
the most evident and wildest enjoyment its deli-
cious diminuendo cadence from the top of its flight
to the moment when it seizes the topmost twig of
the selected tree. Colonel Montagu says this bird
is rare in Cornwall, and Mr. Morris makes the same
remark, but both are evidently in error ; for in May
and June, in this neighbourhood, no other bird of
passage is so common, and certainly no other to be
compared to it for general interest. How long it
stays here I cannot tell, for it ceases singing the
end of June or beginning of July, and then I am
unable to distinguish it from the titlarks. Evidently
Alauda arborea is a much more appropriate name
for it than Alauda trimalis, as it frequents woody
and rich districts, and not crossways and downs,
like skylarks and titlarks. I hope every reader of
these remarks, who is not already familiar with this
bird, will make it a point of becoming so next hay-
season; the song and flight are so peculiar, that it
will be impossible to mistake it for any other. —
Joseph Brew, Nansladron,

ViTRiNA pellucida. — Can this species with-
draw itself completely into its shell ? Our most
recent manual —Tate's "Land and Presh-water
Mollusks " — adopts the negative side, but without
giving any fact or authorities. Having consi-
derable doubts on the matter, I consulted such
works as I possess or have access to, and the fol-
lowing is the result. Our standard authority-
Mr. Jeffreys, in his "British Conchology "—writes,
"the whole of the body can be withdrawn into the
shell." MacGillivray, a careful and accurate ob-
server, in his " MoUusca of Aberdeenshire," says,
" when young, very active, and incapable of with-
drawing entirely within the shell ; but when full-
grown, as I have observed, it can withdraw itself
completely." In Reeves's "British Land and Presh-
water Mollusks," the author offers no opinion, but
adduces M. Moquin-Tandon in the affirmative ; and
Mr. Berkeley, " who has observed this moUusk with
great attention, and published its anatomy in the
"Zoological Journal," in the negative. We have
thus— Jefi'reys, MacGillivray, and Moquin-Tandon,
who consider that it can withdraw completely into
its shell, and Tate and Berkeley, who say that it
cannot ; the balance being decidedly on the affirma-
tive side. With the light of MacGillivray's obser-
vations before us, may not Messrs. Tate and
Berkeley have drawn their conclusions from imma-
ture specimens ? I oiler this as a possible solution
only. I will conclude with a note of a fact that
came under my own notice. Jn one of my coucho-
logical rambles in November, 1871, 1 met with half
a dozen very fine V. pellucida, which I put into a
chip box. On my return home the box was placed
on a sideboard in a room in which was a fire.
Opening the box a few hours later, I found each
animal iiad withdrawn into its shell, leaving the
latter adhering to the side of the box by a slight
film of mucus round the edge, as is the invariable
habit of the genus Helix and others under such
circumstances. But though able to retract com-
pletely into its shell, it cannot, seemingly, do so to
the same extreme extent as the generality of the
univalved mollusks, and leave a considerable space

HAEDWICKE'5 SCI EN C E-GOSSIP.

45

within the aperture between it and the animal. I

have never met with this species in a hybernated
state, nor heard of any instance. I do not think
that it hybernates at all ; its hardy nature renders
such a resource unnecessary. But I am inclined to
think that it sestivates in extremely hot and dry
weather, though I cannot remeniber having met
with it in that state naturally. Perhaps some of the
readers of Science-Gossip can throw a little light
on tiiis part of its economy.— i^. G.Binnie, Herlaugh
Lodge, Tadcaster.

Mice in Traps. — Your correspondent " Pliilo-
mys," in last month's number of Science^Gossip,
notices the fact of mice dying whilst uninjured in
live- traps. That this occasionally, but not gene-
rally, happens, must be known to most persons who
have employed live-traps for the capture of these
vermin ; but it does not appear to me, from actual
observation, that the little creature " seems to resign
itself to its fate, and at once die." On the contrary,
1 have always found the dead mouse to be bathed in
perspiration, giving out a most unpleasant odour ;
and I infer that death is the result of the fearful
but vain struggle to escape from the prison-house,
and is most probably caused by the rupture of some
internal organ. The sufferings of mice in the grasp
of a cat are possibly not so severe as we should
naturally imagine, for in Livingstone's " Missionary
Travels in South A.frica,"p. 12, the doctpr describes
his own sensations when caught by a lion. " The
shock produced a stupor, similar to that which seems
to be felt by a mouse after the first shake of the
cat. It caused a sort of dreaminess, in which there
was no sense of pain nor feeling of terror, though
quite conscious of all that was happening. The
shake annihilated fear, and allowed no sense of
horror in looking round at the beast. This peculiar
state is probably produced in all animals killed by
caruivora, and, if so, is a merciful provision by our
benevolent Creator for lessening the pain of death."
— JF. B. T., Scarborough,

White Varieties. — In your last, Mr. Blow
speaks of the Cichorhcm Intybus, with white flowers,
as an uncommon plant. 1 may state that previous
to so much building round the_ town of Epsom, it
was not unfrequently met with in the Parade Fields.
About three years ago, I found at Half-mile Bush
(Epsom) the Solanum Dulcamara, withwhite flowers
ana yellow berries. I went after it this last season,
and although I found, in the same locality, plants
with purple flowers and red berries, I could not see
a vestige of the white variety I have alluded to,_ and
would suggest whether plants may not sport from
coloured to white, and, under favourable circum-
stances, return to their pristine condition. — }V, T.
Iliff, Upsom.

Ebgotized Grass. — When I sent to Science-
Gossip the notice of the ergotized Alopecurus
agrestis the weather was fine and open, and I
never dreamt of all the frost which has followed.
This frost, 1 am bound to say, scattered all the ergot
in a few hours, having left the affected culms per-
fectly bare of ergot and seed ; and of course the cold
has not let any fresh ergot become developed. These
facts I was first led to suspect on noticing that the
crops of a brace of partridges shot in the field were
literally stuffed with the ripened seeds and ergot
from the grass; and upon going to look for it in
the field, I was vexed at finding it all destroyed. I
mention this that jou may kindly, in your next

number, intimate to my numerous correspondents
the cause that I have not responded to their request
for specimens. I sent you all that 1 had gathered
before the frost came, and will, if possible, satisfy
my friends either with the ergot or something of
interest, as I should be sorry to appropriate their
stamped envelopes. — Jas. Biiikman.

SiiiiEw-MousE. — In Staffordshire, this much-per-
secuted little animal is called the Nursrow. Bailey's
Dictionary gives another odd name, viz. Shrove-
mousc, and defines a shrew-mouse as " a field-mouse
of the bigness of a rat, and colour of a weasel, very
mischievous to cattle, which going over a beast's
back will make it lame in the chine; and its bite
causes the beast to swell to the heart and die."
Bailey derives shrew-mouse from the Danish
skoumusz; but, as applied to a scolding woman,
derives shrew from the Teutonic scheyren (modern
German, schi-eien), to make a bawling. Webster
gives as the derivation of shrew, used in either
sense, the Saxon word screawa. Which is correct ?
—G. H. H.

A Hare Eish. — In a recent number oi Land and
Water there was a note on the capture of a rare fish
off the Northumberland coast — t!ie Long Flounder
{Platessa elongata). Only four or five specimens
of this fish are on record. It is still more singular
to find it ranging so far north as Northumberland.
The specimen has been placed in the Newcastle
Museum.

Stag-beetle.— Has "A. E." fSciENCE-GossiP,
p. 283, vol. vii.) ever been bitten oy a stag-beetle ?
His observations would imply as much without
actually asserting it. They were numerous where I
formerly lived, and I have often tried to get them to
bite a stick, but never succeeded in doing so ; indeed,
the insects always appeared remarkably inoffensive,
and, so to speak, tame. Notwithstanding the for-
midable appearance of the masculine mandibles,
their length would rather tell against their power ;
and I should certainly feel more shy of a nip from
the less imposing, but I suspect more effective, jaws
of the female. — Q. Gmjon, Fentnor.

Processionary Moths (pp. 106 and 184, vol. vii.).
—In the first of these articles we are told, after
naming the three species of the so-called " Proces-
sionary Moths," that " neither of the species is found
in England ;" and in the latter, that the larva3 have
made their appearance in a garden in Dorset " for
the last dozen or fourteen years." It is well known
to those who have paid attention to insects, that
the species in question are none of thern British.
Are we to understand by the communication of our
fair friend that these species of caterpillars were
introduced, and are now thriving in her garden?
1 su'^pect the caterpillars of the Lackey-moth
{B. Neustria), and not the Processionary Moth, are
those observed in Dorset. It is a well-known fact,
that several species of caterpillars found in England
possess an urticating nature from the spines adorn-
ing their bodies ; amongst which those of A. Caja,
L. auriflua, B. trifoUi, and many others, are lamiliar
examples to those who are in the habit of rearing
them. — G. B. C., Bingicood.

Talking Bullfinch.— A male bullfinch, in the
possession of Mrs. Cooke, Old Catton, Norwich,
cin speak three separate sentences,— "Come along,'
" Look here," Pretty, pretty, pretty dear, the
first very distinctly.— //^. B.

40

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE - GO S SIP.

Eix& Ousel. — It is not a very iiiicommon oc-
currence to see the Ring Ousel in Dorset and Wilts
duriu? the autumn months. Tliese birds visit the
mountainous districts of this country in the sprinj?
of the year, travelling southvk^ard as the autumn
approaches. About six years ago, a gentleman
caught one of these ring ousels, near Cerne Abbas.
If I remember rightly, it was towards the end of
November, during very inclement weatlier. The
bird was a very beautiful specimen of the male
Tardus torquatns, and was in my mother's posses-
sion for sometime. We christened him Charlie, after
the donor, and he became one of our best-loved
household pets. In a very few weeks Charlie lost
all his natural shyness, and became charmingly at-
tractive. He would come to the side of his cage
and utter a peculiarly clear strong note, almost like
the song-note of a thrush, and beg to have his head
rubbed. He would peck crumbs out of rny mother's
hand in the most delicate gentleman-like manner
imaginable. We fed him like our other birds, on
mixed seeds, home-made German paste, &c., and he
appeared well and happy. His end was most un-
timely and sad. A neighbour's cat, having a
pencliant for birds, attacked the cage one day, ;md
succeeded in putting an _ end to poor Charlie's
existence, as well as killing two canaries, who
shared his home, and were great friends of the
ring ousel. — Barbara Wallace Fyfe, Nottingliam.

BoMBTX QuEECTJS. — I have personally ex-
perienced the urticating property of the hairs of
B. Quercics, noticed by your correspondent in last
month's Science-Gossip. I opened some cocoons
of this species, and both my brother and I got the
hairs from the cast skin of the caterpillar into our
hands and faces, causing considerable irritation. I
have been told that it is only the hai'.s of the
female larvae that are irritatiug, but I don't think
so. 1 had often previously handled the caterpillars
without getting the hairs into my skin. — Harry
Leslie.

Birth and Death op a Hippopotamus. —
An interesting event took place at the Zoological
Gardens on the 9i h of January. A baby hippopota-
mus was born, and great endeavours were made to
keep it alive, but in vain. The little animal was
unable to suck, and after three days it died from
lack of nourishment. Some difficulty was experi-
enced in getting the baby away from its mother,
and when it had been safely placed in the hands of
its foster-parent, Mr. Bartlett, tlie indefatigable
curator, managed to get about a pint and a half of
milk down its throat. It was too far gone, how-
ever, to rally, and died almost immediately. The
young hippopotamus could swim as well as its
mother.

Geophilus electkicus.— The following notes
on an electric centipede, which I kept in captivity
for some days a few years ago, may prove interest-
ing to your correspondent Mr. Henderson : — " Oc-
tober 13th, 18G9. A fiiend brought me an electric
centipede {GeopJiilns cledricus) this evening. He
found it on Primrose Hill. I laid it on some damp
earth in a small glass jar. When I breathed on it,
it writhed about and became luminous. The lumi-
nosity had sometimes a greenish, sometimes a bluish
tint. The green seemed to be con lined to the head
and the blue to the body; but of this I am not
sure, for the colours were usually so intermingled,
and the diiFerence between the shades was so slight,

that it was almost impossible to distinguish between
them. The power of showing light appeared to be
weakened by frequent exercise. After a time my
breathing on the centipede only caused its head to
become luminous, and at: length the luminosity en-
tirely ceased. 14th. Tliis morning I took the cen-
tipede into a dark closet, and breathed on it two or
three times, but with no effect. In the evening my
breathing on it had the same effect as it had last
night. Pirst its whole body became luminous, after
a time only its head was lighted up, and at length it
showed no light at all. 15th. To-night it again
showed it,s light, but not so brightly as heretofore.
16th. This evening also the centipede became lumi-
nous, but not so brightly even as last night. I think
the insect was injured in some way by the roughness
of its captor. It appetirs to me to be dying. 20 th.
I have not been able to make any observations dur-
ing the last few days, and this morning 1 find the
centipede is dead." These notes were not made from
memory, but at the time, and may therefore be de-
pended on. It will be seen that the insect lived in
captivity exactly a week. It never showed any dis-
position to crawl from the spot on which it lay when
first put into the jar, and never moved, I think,
except when breathed upon, or otherwise disturbed.
This inertness I attribute to its having been injured
when it was taken. — John Landels.

A. ATROPOS, Pupa. — Your correspondent "E. L."
may succeed in breeding perfect specimens oiA.atro-
pos by placing the pupa in a hat-box containing damp
moss, which should be kept moderately warm near
a fire. Sphag^mm moss is the best for the purpose,
and it should be prepared by baking it, to destroy
any insects it may contain. Without sufiicient
moisture the moth cannot break through the pupa-
case. If not forced in this way, but allowed to
remain in the pupa state during the winter, they
seldom come to anything in the following year. — H.
A. Auld.

Daylight Aurora.— On Priday, January 5th,
about four p.m., I observed a peculiar appearance of
the sky in the N.E. It consisted of fine dark rays,
or stripes, coming apparently from a centre not far
belov.' the horizon. A friend of mine oliscrved a
similar appearance on Saturday, the 6th, at the same
hour. Have these phenomena any connection with
" aurora by daylight," mentioned in your last num-
ber ? — Julia Colsoji, Sicauage.

The Unicorn.— I was much interested in Mr.
Kittou's article on medieval science. These histo-
rical reflections are useful as indicating the degree
of real progress which has been made. If it is not
outside your province, I should like to be informed
if there is any connection between the unicorn, em-
ployed as a supporter of the British arms, and that
figured in Mi\ Kittou's paper from the seal of Mar-
garet of Scotland ? The latter, it will be remem-
bered, was given to illustrate the medieval tradition
of how the fabulous animals were caught. — T. E.

Malvern Naturalists' Club.— The Rev. W.
Symonds, P.G.S., who has presided over this elub
so admirably for eighteen years, has at length re-
tired. The members have sliown their sense of
Mr. Symonds' merit by presenting him, after a
luncheon given for the purpose, with a splendid
silver epcrgnc. To Mrs. Symonds, on the same oc-
casion, was presented a capital portrait of her
husband. T'he address from the members set forth

IIARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

47

the -^reat obligations under which the club laboured
to Mr. Symonds, for his able and long presidency.
The presentation was made, on behalt ot the club,
by Sir AVilliam Guise, Bart., President of the
Cotteswold Naturalists' Club.

Bony Excrescences in Skin of Tuiibot.— Can
any of your readers inform me of the use of the bony
excrescences in the skin of the common turbot f
They are scattered at too Jjreat distauces tobeot
any 'service as defences. These bodies are chieily
confined to this and other species of fish all of winch
I believe are what are commonly called tiat-tisli.
—H.B.

PAKTPaDGE's Plight.— The velocity of the Par-
tridge's flight is curiously illustrated by an occur-
rence recently communicated to me by a friend. A
covey of partridges got up in a field and flew oil
towards a road, along which ran the telegraph. One
of the birds was observed to strike the wnes and
fall after continuing its flight a short distance. On
being picked up it was found that the wire had
completely severed the head from the body. The
bird was a fine cock partridge, and the spot where
it had fallen was twenty-two yards distant Irom the
telegraph. — 0. H. H.

Singing Mice.— It appears to me, from personal
observation, that the phenomenon of the so-cailed
singing mouse must be referred to some other cause
than that of happiness. Two cases have fallen under
my notice. The first mouse was caught lu a live-trap,
and soon drew attention to itself by the peculiar
sounds it uttered. It is some years ago, but I re-
member the huddled-up form which it assumed, and
the apparent indifference to anytliing which it mani-
fested. I forget whether it ate food in captivity. It
lived but a short time, continuing the sound in the
presence of a friend. The second mouse was noticed
under a sofa, and when attempts were made to cap-
ture it, it would merely run to the other end of the
sofa, and, assuming the same luiddled-up form, con-
tinue the sound. This was killed whilst being cap-
tured; but both gave me the idea of their being
diseased and wretched. I would rather refer the
cause to disease of the respiratory organs,— in fact,
call it a kind of wheezing. Something analogous to
this occurs to an old lady of my acquaintance, who
is liable to a peculiar affection of the bronchial tubes,
which produces a constant twittering or chin-upin^,
remiudiug one strongly and ludicrously of a bird.
This is called by the lady herself "the little bird m
her throat." There is also a resemblance between
mice in this state and birds at certain seasons, which
favours the theory of their being under the iufluence
of the tender passion. A goldfinch, in particular,
that was in my possession for several years would,
at a certain time every year, puff up his body and
ruffle the feathers, keeping up, at the same time, an
incessant twittering, increasing the sounds vehe-
mently on my approaching the cage. I have every
reason to believe that rats utter the same sound,
but in a lower key.— -ff. /. Bacon.

AuBOREscENT SiLVER.— I have prepared many of
these beautiful slides as described by "P. K.,"
SciENCE-GossiP, p. 17, but finding it very diSicult
to remove the piece of copper wire without disturb-
ing the crystals, I adopted the plan of using a long
piece of thin copper or brass wire, and bent a portion
into a T shape to rest on the table, or the coil itself
did as well, the end of the wire being bent down to
touch the slidii in the centre of the drop of nitrate
of silver solution. When the feathery deposit of

metallic silver was formed, the finger or n pencil
passed under the wire would raise it without disturb-
ing the crystals, it being simply a perpendicular lift.
If the action is continued too long, a blue tinge will
result from the formation of nitrate of copper. By .
using different thickness of wire and strength of
solution various effects are obtained.— G^. Giiyon,
Ventnor.

Oak Egga-R. — I believe the nrticating properties
of the Oak Eggar [B. Qiiercils) larvre are more known
than "E. H. S." thinks, for in the south of Devon
it is a very common insect : the side hairs are those
that are injurious. I have taken one of ihose crea-
tures in my hand with a kid glove on, and the hairs
so stuck into the glove that every tiaie I used it I
had a fresh sting, and the irritation continued for
several weeks. The larva; of the Pox (L. Riihi) has
the same properties, only stronger ; even touching
the cocoon of either larvte, which is composed partly
of the hairs of the caterpillar, the fingers are stung.
As to the effect only occurring on persons of delicate
health that is not correct, but it may be more pain-
ful on fine skin. If the insect is handled very ten-
derly, there will not follow any iuconveiiieuce. —
J.G.

PoDTJRA Scales.— I have in my collection and now
take especial care of it, a slide of test scales of the
Podura, mounted by the late Mr. R. Beck. I re-
member him telling me that he found the Podura in
the rock-work in his mother's garden. He was, as
is well known, a keen observer, and mightthus
make discoveries which would escape the notice of
some. After reading Mr. M,Iutyre's excellent
article in Science-Gossip, I commenced a hunt for
them, and in the cellar found a lead-coloured species,
some few of wliich yielded a scale equal to Mr.
Beck's. I must, however, say that I did not get one
slide in twenty, nor one scale in five thousand, that
was of any use. Perhaps it is this diificulty in meet-
ing with well-marked scales which makes "L.L.B."
doubt if they can be found. In Mr. Beck's slide I
notice there are only two well-marked ones. Perhaps,
as suggested, the age of the insect has something to
do with it. At all events, they appear the exception,
not the rule.— £". G., Matlock.

A Bare Plant.— At page 168 of your vol. for
1S67 is a notice of that curious plant Bhyllactidiim
pulchelbm, and as localities were asked lor, it may
be worth while to state that it is very abundant in
the neighbourhood of Chester. While examinmg
recently some anacharis under a low pov/er, 1
observed the under surface of the leaves thickly
dotted with it, in some cases forming a riband
nearly the length of the leaf. Tlie anacharis was
taken from an out-door tank supplied with water
from the Dee. It has also been found in one or
two ponds in this neighbourhood.— C. Mills.

Initial Letters.— The following is the reply of
the Secretary of the Post Office on this important
subiect:-ru/e paragraph 200, page l^Bnlish
Postal Guide. "Letters addressed to imtials
at the Pcste llestante, or to a District or Branch
Office, are returned to the writers " Ihis does not
apply to receiving-houses, where the letter-receivers
mav take in letters addressed to " ini lais it they
consider that they would be lustihed m so doing.
At Provincial Post Offices also, the postmasters
may take in letters addressed to initials if
they think proper.

48

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

NOTICES TO CORHESPONDENTS.

All communications relative to advertisements, post-office
orders, and orders for the supply of this Jonmal, should be
addressed to the Pltblishkii. AU contributions, books,
and pamphlets for the Editor should be sent to 192,
Piccadilly, London, W. To avoid disappointment, contri-
butions should not be received later than the 15th of each
month. No notice whatever ran be taken of communica-
tions which do not contain the name and address of the
writer,not necessarilv for publication, if desired to be with-
held. We do not undertake to answer any queries not
specially connected with Natural History, in accordance
with our acceptance of that term ; nor can we answer
queries which might be solved by the correspondent by an
appeal to any elementary book on the subject. We are
always prepared to accept queries of a critical nature, and
to publish the replies, provided some of our readers, besides
the querist, are likely to be interested in them. We do not
undertake to return rejected manuscripts unless sufficient
stamps are enclosed to cover the return postage Neither
can we promise to refer to cr return any manuscript after
one month from the date of its receipt. All microscopical
drawings intended frr publication should have annexed
thereto the powers employed, or the extent of enlargement,
indicated in diameters (thus: x 320 diameters). Communi-
cations intended for publication should oe written on one
side of the paper only, and all scientific names, and names of
places and individuals, should be as legible as possible.
Wherever scientific names or technicalities are employed, it
is hoped that the common names will accompany them.
Lists or tables are inadmissible under any circumstances.
Those of the popular names of British plants and animals
are retained and registered for publication when suffi-
ciently complete for that purpose, in whatever form may
then be decided upon. Address. No. 192, Piccadilly,

LONDON.W.

E. F. B.— The larva found crawling on the pavement is
that of a Telephortis (Soldier-beetle), either T. fuscus 01 T.
rusticus. It is very carnivorous.

J. M. H.— Young larvje of the Burnet Moth, which were
hatched and died soon afterwards.

W. B. S.— Next mcnth.

R. V. T.— Mosses. 1. Tlagiothccium elegans ; 2. Tricho-
stomum Uttorale ; 3. Bryum atropurpureum, with B. inter-
medium, — R. B.

A Constant Reader asks whether Stephens really in-
serted in his " Illustrations of British Entomology," the six
orders of Diptera, Horaaloptera, Aphaniptera, Aptera,
Hemiptera, and Homoptera ? [In reply we beg to state, that
the orders named were not included in Stephens's "Illus-
trations," except a few plates of Diptera, with descriptions
of the species at the end of the work.]

S. A. D.— A great deal is left to taste in the arrangement of
dried plants. You can fasten them by thin slips of paper
gummed at each end, which may be carried across the fruit-
stalks of the mosses. More than one specimen of the same
moss, or more than one species of the same genus, may be
mounted on the same sheet, if there is space enough. We
don't know there is any particular rule as to their separation
of the genera. Have them to succeed each other in their allied
order, as you will find them in all good works on muscology.
Will A. E. M. kindly communicate his address to the
Editor ?

P. A.— Obsidian, or " Volcanic glass," a peculiar igneous
rock, whose appearance is due to the rate at which it cooled.
T. Johnson.— Seeds cf common Goosefoot {Galium
aparine).

H. J.— The shells sent are, 1. Littorina riidis ; 2. Tellina
JSallhica, a shell especially abundant in the Baltic and
German Ocean.

H. Gilbert.— The growths attached to confervse on the
slide sent are diatoms, Gompho7iema tenellum. — F. K.

J. B. L.— The fungus on the leaf of Chctrophyllum temulum
is a Sphceropsis.

Rev. G. Pi.vder.— Not insects' eggs at all, but a fungus, a
Nectria, probably Nectria Cinnaharina. The spores, which
are present in great quantities, will determine the species.

J. G. sends plants with yellow flowers found on sandhills,
and having excrescences full of larvK, on which sparrows
feed greedily. The excrescences, or galls, are produced by
Aula.r Sabaudi. Hartig^, one of the Cynipidse. The gall is many-
celled, and probably would produce twenty or thirty flies in
the spring. The plant is either Hieracium sabaudum, or
H. umbellatum, on both cf which the Aulax occurs.

Philip Barker.— You will find all the information you re-
quire concerning olyect-glasses and angular aperture in the
last volume of the Microscopical Journal.

J. P. — 1. Foa subctrrulea ; an alpine, or starved variety of P.
jiriitensis. 2. The supposed Jti»cus is really part of two
plants, one resembling a variety of I'oa nemoralie, the other
a portion of Scirjius.

EXCHANGES.

Notice. — Only one " Exchange " can be inserted at a time
by the same individual. The maximum length (except for
correspondents not residing in Great Britain) is three lines.
Only objects of Natural Hi.-tory permitted. Notices must be
legibly written, in full, as intended to be inserted.

Exchange.— K. Urticce, Gulathea utalanta, Ocellatus, S.
Populi, Caj'i, Lubricipeda, Minthastri, Bucephala, Vinula,
QueiCics, Grnssulariafa, Gumma, S. Ligustri, pupae of S.
Populi, Ocellatus, Buce/ihala, for pupa of Carpini.—R. Garflt,
Market Square, Alford, Lincolnshire.

No. 34, 80, 397, 1087, 1223*, 1255, 1296, 1307, 1353, 1364, &C.
in exchange for other British Plants.— Apply to J. A. 59,
Woodhousie Lane, Leeds.

Achatina acicula, in exchange for other British shells.—
Address, Hugh Perkins, Sibford, near Banbury.

Exchanges wanted of geological specimens of all forma-
tions.—Apply to Rev. Dr. Gloag, The Manse, Galashiels,
N. B.

Can any one supply me with two or three specimens of
each or either of the two following ferns -.—Hymenophyllum
Tunbridgense or Hymenophyllum Wilsoni? Any one doing so
will greatly oblige T. B. Blow, Welwyn, Herts.

Vallisneria spiralis (growing plant) offered for a good
mounted slide of crystals for polariscope.- Address, W. H.
Gomm, Somerton, Taunton.

Eggs.— Gyr-falcon's, Merlin's, and Greater and Lesser
^Yhite Heron's, &c., in exchange for other eggs.— Address,
A. C. A., Post-offlce, Staines.

Wanted.— Unmounted specimens of British and Foreign
Zoophytes (correctly named). Exchange given in micro-
scopic slides. Send list to E. Ward, 9, Howard Street,
Coventry.

Well-mounted Slides of Entomological specimens, Leaf
Fungi, &c., for other good Microscopic objects. Lists ex-
changed.—J. Ford, Stamford.

Spicules oi Alcyonium digitatum and Spongilla fluviatilis,
mounted, in exchange for other good mounted objects. —
John C. Hutcheson, 8, Lansdowne Crescent, Glasgow.

Spicules of Gorgonia and Spatangus for spicules of Grantia
compressa and Spongilla fluviatilis. — Edith Meyrick,
Downshire Lodge, Blessington, co. Wicklow, Ireland.

Coal-measure Fish remains for Devonian fossils.— G. W.
Rowbotham, 2, Parsonage Street, Derby Street, Salford .

Wanted, Nos. 17, 47, 90, 93,9-1, 105.110, 170, 177, 209, 307,
309, Loud. Cat., for others.— Addres^, R. and T., Withiel,
Bodmin.

Fungi, for plants of the same order. Sphceriacei pre-
ferred.- Charles B. Plowright, The Hospital, King's Lynn.

Eggs of Heron, Landrail, Goatsucker, and common Gull,
in exchange for any unmounted Microscopic objects.— G. H.
Stabington, Station Hill, Basingstoke.

European Coleoptera, named and mounted, offered for
named British species.— W. H. Groser, 15, Thomhill Road, N.

British Land and Fresh-water Shells, in exchange for
others.— Address, J. A. G., The Elms, Banbury, Oxon.

Turgis ciliata.— a beautiful opaque object for the bino-
cular, for other good objects, mounted or unmounted.—
T. H. Saunders, 34, North Fourth Street, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, U. S.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

" The Canadian Entomologist."

" The American Naturalist."

" Rudimentary Magnetism." By Sir W. Snow Harris,
F.R S., &c. Second edition, revised by Professor Noad,
F.R.S., &c. London: Locksvood & Co. 1872.

" Land and Water."

Co.mmunications Received.— C. E. B.— G. H. K.— J. F. R.

— \. H.— G. G.-G. B. C.-G. H. H.-C. F.— T. G. B.—
J B B.— C. M.- F. F. M.— H. G.— W. R. T.— F. G. B.— J. D.
— W T I — T. C. O.— J. B.-J. B. L.— J. A.-C. L.-E. F. E.

— II B — T. E.— J. M. H— W. B.— R. L.— H. L.— W. H. B.
-C ' L — R. F. T.-J. C.-J. L.-H. A. A.-G. H. S.-W. D. R.
— G McL.-F. M. K.— H. J. B.-E. M.— J. C. H.-A. L —
C B P-S.A. D.— W. B. S.— C. J. W. R.— C. C— T. G.—
W. P.— J. A. (Leeds)— J. E.— E. C. Lefroy (ne.\t month}—
T. H. S.— S.-J. A. G.-W. H. G.- J. B.

HARDWICKE'S SC lEN CE- GOS SIP.

49

COLLECTING AND PEESEEVING.

No. ir.-MOSSES .«-
By R. Braithwaite, M.D., F.L.S.

N making a col-
lection of the
vegetable pro.
' ductions of a
country, we find
considerable dif-
ferences in the
structure of the
various groups of plants,
and in the tissues of vphich
they are composed ; and
hence special inanipulation
is requisite in dealing with
certain orders. Some are of
so succulent a nature, or
have a framework so easily
disintegrated, that they con-
tain within themselves the
elements of destruction, and
present the greatest difii-
cuity in satisfactory preser-
vation, while others are so slightly acted on by
external agents, that little trouble is required to
prepare specimens of permanent beauty.

The Ferns and Lycopods, being generally appro-
priated by the collector of flowering plants, will be
treated on with the latter, and following these
come the Mosses, to which we will now direct
attention, taking the alliance in its broadest sense,
as including the three groups of Erondose Mosses,
Bog Mosses, and Liver Mosses, or Hepatic^, all of
which are readily collected and preserved, and yield
an endless fund of instructive entertainment to the
microscopist. But it may be asked. Where is the
game to be found ? Where are the pleasant hunt-

* Mr. Hardwicke has arranged to supply a mounted speci-
men illustrative of the above paper, and of the List of British
Mosses now preparing, price Sixpence.

No. 87.

ing-grounds in which they most do congregate ? We
answer, everywhere may some species or other be
met with ; yet, though many are cosmopolitan, the
majority have their special habitats, and some their
special seasons, both being considerably influenced
by the presence of moisture.

Collecting. — The bryologist has one advantage
over the phsenogamous botanist, for it is not impera-
tive that mosses should be laid out and pressed im-
mediately ; and hence less care is required in collect-
ing them, than is bestowed on flowering plants ; the
necessary apparatus is confined to a pocket-knife, to
remove specimens from stones or trees, a stock of
stout waste paper, and a vasculum, or, better still, a
strong bag, in which to carry the packets. When
collecting the plants, it is well to remove any super-
fluous earth or stones, or to squeeze out the water
from those found in bogs ; and then each is to be
wrapped separately in paper, and the locality
marked outside ; or the more minute species may,
for greater safety, be placed in chip boxes. On
reaching home, if we do not prepare the specimens
at once, we must not leave the parcels packed
together in their receptacle, or mould will soon
attack them and spoil the whole ; but we must
spread them out on the floor until quite dry, and
then reserve them to a convenient opportunity to
lay out ; as in the dry state they may be kept for
years unchanged.

It often happens that our line of study is devel-
oped by some fortuitous circumstance. A neglected
flowerpot in a corner of the garden attracts atten-
tion by its verdant carpet of moss, or, peeping over
the wall, we see the crevices between the bricks
bristling with capsules of Tortula rimralis, the red-
twisted peristome freshly brought to view by the
falling away of the lid, and, taking a bit indoors to
submit to the microscope, we are so captivated there-
with that we then and there determine to become a

50

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

bryologist. Nor is this all that a journey round the
garden will disclose : the neglected paths yield other
species not less worthy of examination, and old
apple-trees are not unfrequently tenanted by mosses.

Extending our walks to tlie commons, lanes, and
woods, we may find on tlie ground and banks, in
bogs and on the stumps and trunks of trees, a num-
ber of species greatly extending our list, while
others again are only met with on tlie clay soil of
stubble-fields; a, various species of Fottici and
Ephemerum : appearing in October, their delicate
texture is developed by the constant moisture of
winter, and with it also they vanish, to appear no
more until the succeeding season. Travelling yet
farther away, we find that each locality we visit
yields some novelty : old walls and rocks of sand-
stone or slate, limestone districts, and above all, a
mountainous country, are rich in species we seek in
vain elsewhere. Here peatbogs, and rocks dripping
with water, ever supplied by the atmosphere, or the
tumbling streams everywhere met with, are the
chosen homes of these little plants, and thither
must the collector resort, if he would reap his
richest harvest. Winter and spring in the lowlands,
and a later period in the elevated districts, will be
found most productive of fruiting plants.

Preparation, of Specimens. — So rapidly does the
cellular texture of the mosses transmit fluid, that,
when soaked in water, we see them swell up and
expand their little leaves, and in a short time t4iey
look as fresh as when growing ; hence a basin of
water, a towel, and drying-paper are all we require
to prepare oiir specimens for the herbarium. If the
tufts are lai'ge, we must separate them into patches
sufficiently thin to lie flat, and by repeated washing,
get rid of adherent earth, mud, or gravel. This is
conveniently accomplished by holding the tuft in the
palm of the hand, under a tap, and allowing a
stream of water to pass through it ; then by pressure
in the folded towel we remove superfluous moisture
and immediately transfer to paper, arranging the
plants as we wish them to lie permanently, and
placing with each a ticket bearing the name : a
moderate weight is sufiicient to dry them, as with
great pressure tlie capsules split, and thus the value
of the specimens is decreased. It not unfrequently
happens that two or three species grow intermixed :
these must be carefully separated at the time of
soaking, and any capsules required to show the
, peristome must also be removed before the plants
are submitted to pressure.

Uxamiiiafion of Specimens. — We have very much
to learn about a moss before we can become mas-
ters of all the characters that pertain to it as a
specific individual. We must observe its branching,
the mode of attachment of the leaves to the stem,
and their direction ; the form and structure of a
separate leaf, the position of the male flowers, and
lastly the position and structure of the fruit. Eor

the efficient determination of these we require a
microscope (the simple dissecting microscope is
amply sufficient), a couple of sharp-edged, triangu-
lar needles fixed in handles, and a few glass slides
and covers. Having soaked our specimen in water,
we lay it on a slide, and by cutting througli the
stem with one of the needles, close^to the attach-
ment of a leaf, we can rea'dily remove the leaf en-
tire, and two or three may be transfen-ed to another
slide, and placed in a drop of water uuder a cover :
the same thing may be roughly accomplished by
scraping the stem backwards with one of^the
needles ; but in this way the leaves are often torn.

Fig. 33. — Tortula muralis.
1, Leaf and its areolation 2. Capsule. 3. Calyptra.
4. Lid. 5. Male flower. 6. Antheridia and pataphyses-

By examination of a leaf we notice its form, the
condition of its margin, whether entire or serrated
or bordered ; the presence and extent of the nerve ;
and lastly, and most important of all, the form and
condition of its component cells ; and for this a
higher power is required. With a l-in. object-glass
and C eyepiece we can observe their form, and
whether their walls are thickened so as to render
them dot-like ; their contents, whether chloro-
phyllose or hyaline; and their surface, whether
smooth or covered with papillae ; for often these
points are so characteristic, that by them alone we
can at once refer a barren specimen to its proper
family or genus.

Preservation of Specimens. — This may be dis-
cussed uuder two heads :— 1st, as microscopic
objects ; 2nd, for the herbarium.

1. The parts required for microscopic examina-
tion are the capsules and peristome, entire speci-
mens of the smaller species, and detached leaves.
The capsules having to be viewed by condensed
light, must be mounted dry as opaque objects ; and
for this purpose I use Piper's wooden slides, with
revolving bone cover ; and in one of .these we may
fix a capsule with the lid still attached, another
laid on its side, but showing the peristome, and a
third with the mouth of the capsule looking upward,
a position very useful for the species of Orthotri-
chum, as we are thus enabled to see the inner

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

51

peristome ; and with tliem also maybe placed the
calyptra : should the cost of these be an object, a
cheaper substitute may be found in shallovr, black-
ened pill-boxes.

To preserve the leaves in an expanded state we
may employ the fluid media used for vegetable
tissues, or, when time is of consequence, llimming-
ton's glycerine jelly is a convenient material in
which to mount them, a ring of dammar cement
being first placed on the slide, and within this the
liquefied jelly, to which the expanded specimen is
quickly transferred, and the cover securely sealed
by gold size. Preparations of this kind are of the
highest value as types for comparison with actual
specimens we may have for determination.

Fig. 34. Cern'odoii purpureus.
a. Male plant. 1. Leaf and its areolation. 2. Capsule.
3. Calyptra. 4. Two teeth of the peristome.

2. In mounting specimens for the herbarium,
we must be guided by the limits which we have
fixed on for the extent of the same ; and I may
first describe the method adopted for my own
collection. Every species has a separate leaf of
cartridge-paper measuring 14ixl0| inches, and
on this the specimens are fixed, each mounted by a
little gum on a piece of toned paper ; thus 4 or 6_to
12 specimens, according to size, arc attached to
each leaf, — varieties have one or more additional
leaves ; and to each is also fixed a triangular enve-
lope, inclosing loose capsules and leaves for ready
transfer to the microscope, and also a label in-
dicating the name, habitat, and date of collection.
A pink cover for each genus includes the species,
and a stout millboard cover embraces the genera of
each family, with the name of which it is labelled
outside, the whole shutting up in a cabinet.

Another form is that seen in Rabenliorst's Bry-
otheca Europpea, quarto volumes of 50 specimens,
one occupying each leaf, and so arranged that the
specimens do not come opposite to each other.
Others again use loose sheets of note-paper, within
each of which a single specimen is mounted ; but
this, from their size, is very cumbersome. Or we
may take a single well-chosen typical specimen and
arrange many species on a page, as is seen in the

beautiful volume of Gardiner's "British Mosses " or
Mclvor's " Hepatica; Britannica;." Wiiatever plan
we adopt, our specimens, once well dried and kept
in a dry place, are unchangeable, and are always
looked upon with pleasure, each recalling some
pleasing associations, or perchance reminding us of
some long-lost friend, in companionship with whom
they were collected or studied. A stock of dupli-
cates must also be reserved, from which to supply
our friends, or exchange with other collectors for
desiderata in our own series : these may be kept in
square cases of various sizes, cut so as to allow the
edges of the top and sides to wrap over the other
half folded down on the specimens.

The Hepatica; of the family Jungermaniacere arc
treated precisely as mosses, the capsules, however,
show but little diversity, and will not require sepa-
rate preservation ; but the elaters, or spiral threads
accompanying the seeds, are elegant microscopic
objects. The Marchantiacea; must be pressed when
fresh, as they do not revive with the same facility
as other species, owing to their succulent nature
and numerous layers of cells.

Classification. — On this I have fully treated else-
where ("The Moss World," Popular Science Re-
view, Oct., 1871), and it may suffice here simply to
indicate the families of British mosses and their
mode of arrangement. The cell-texture of the leaf
takes an important place in the characters, and in
accordance with this principle the Cleistocarpous
or Phascoid group is broken up and distributed in
various families. We have tv\'0 orders; one in-
deed, comprising only the genus Aiidrecea, is distin-
guished by the capsule splitting into four valves
united at apex ; the other, including the bulk of
the species, has in most cases a lid, which sepa-
rates transversely, and usually discloses a peri-
stome of tooth-like processes. The structure of
these teeth again enables us to form three divisions.
In the first they consist of amass of confluent cells ;
iu the second, of tongue-shaped processes, composed
of agglutinated filaments ; and in the third, of a
double layer of cells, transversely articulated to
each other, the outer layer composed of two rows
of firm coloured cells, the inner of a single series of
vesicular hyaline cells, on which the hygroscopic
quality of the tooth depends.

Sub-Class SPHAGNINiS.

Bog Mosses.

Earn. 1. — Sphagnacese.

Sub-Class BRYIN^.
Prondose Mosses.
Order 1.— Schistocaupi.

Earn. 1.— Andreseacese.
Order 2.— Stegocaupi.
Div. 1.— Elasniodontes.

Earn. 2. Georgiacese.

D 2

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

Div. 2. — Nematodoutes.

Fam. 3. — Buxbaumiaceae.
Fam. 4. — Poljtricliacese.
Div. 3. — Artbrodontes.
Subdiv. 1. — 'Acrocarpici.
*Disticbophylla.
Fam. 5. Scbistostegaceai. \ Fam. 6. Fissideutacete.
**Polysticbopbjlla.

Fam. 7. DicranacefE.
J, 8. Leucobryacea).
5, 9. TricbostomacefE.
„ 10. Grimmiacese.
3, 11. Orthotricbacese.

Subdiv. 2.-

Fam. 17. Hookeriacese.
J, 18. Fontinalacese.
J, 19. Neckeraceae.

Fam. 12. Splacbnaceaj.
„ 13. FunariaccEB.
„ 14. BryacCcC.
„ 15. Mniacese.
„ 16. Bartramiacese.

Pleurocarpici.

Fam. 20. Leskeacese.
„ 21. Hypnacese.

Sub-Class HEPATICIN^.
Liver Mosses.

Fani.l. Juugermanniacese.
,, 2. MarchautiaceEe.

Fam. 3. Antbocerotaceaj.
,, 4. Bicciacese.

Among species wbicb may be generally met iJvitb
by beginners on the look-out for mosses, we may
enumerate tbe following : —

On JFalls. — Tortula muralis and revoluta, Bryum
capillare and csespiticium, Grimmia pulvinata,
Weisia cirrbata.

Ill Clay Fields. — Pbascum acaulon, Potiia trun-
catula and Starkeana.

On IFaste Ground and Heaths. — Cei'atodou pur-
pureus, Funaria bygrometrica, Campylopus turfa-
ceus, Bryum argentcum, nutans, and palleus,
Pleuridium subulatum, Dicranella beteromalla
and varia, Pbyscomitrium pyriforme, Pogouatum
aloides, Polytricbum commune, piliferum, and juni-
perium, Tortula unguiculata and fallax, Bartramia
pomiformis, Jungermannia bicuspidata, Lepidozia
reptaus, Ptilidium ciliare, Frullania tamarisci.

Shady Banks and Woods. — Catbarinea undulata,
Weisia viridula, Tortula subulata, Muium bornum,
Dicranum scoparium, Hypnum rutabulum, 'veluti-
num, cupressiforme, prrelongum, purum, and mol-
luscum, Plagiotbecium denticulatum, Pleurozium
splendeus and Scbreberi, Hylocomium squarrosum
and triquetrum, Tbuyidiumtamariscinum, Fissidens
bryoides, Plagiocbila asplenioides, Jungermannia
albicans, Lopbocolea bideutata.

In Bogs. — Spbagnum cymbifolium and acutifo-
lium, Gymnocybe palustris, Hypnum cuspidatum,
stellatum, aduncum, and fluitans,' Jungermannia
inflata.

Roclis and hj Streams. — Grimmia apocarpa, Tri-

dontium pellucidum, Hypnum serpens, filicinum,

commutatum, and palustre, Scapania nemorosa,

Metzgeria furcata, Marchautia polymorpba, Pellia

epipbylla, Fegatella conica.

On Trees. — Ulota crispa, Ortliotricbum affine and
diapbanum, Crypbsea hetercmalla, Homalia tricbo-
manoides, Hypnum sericeuro Isotliecium myurum,

Frullania dilatata, Radula complanata, Madotbeca,
platypbylla.

Small as tbis list is, it wUl be found to yiebl
ample store for investigation, and if true love for
the study be thereby excited, the circle of forms
"will be found to widen with every new locality
visited. If we have contributed in any way to facili-
tate tbe pursuit, then is our object fulfilled, and we
may conclude with tbe words of Horace, —

Vive, vale ! si quid novisti rectius istis,
Candidas irapeiti, si non, his utere mecum.

CANINE GYRA.TIONS.

"IVrO one who has ever kept a dog or who has had
-^^ opportunities of observing the habits of that
most interesting auimal, can have failed to remark
tbe extraordinary and apparently unnecessary way
in which a dog scrapes himself round and round in
circles preparatory to settling down to rest ; and it
is undeniable that this habit is not confined to any
particular class of dogs, but is observable in a
greater or less degree throughout tbe entire canine
race. Now, as tbis mode of procedure is certainly
not produced, like some other fashions, by the re-
quirements of modern civilization, but dates back
from the most rem.ote antiquity, several theories
have been set up to account for it. Tbe most
notable of tbese is the Darwinian theory, which is
briefly as follows. In tbe remote ages of tbe world
tbe surface of tbe earth was for tbe most part
covered with very long grass, in which the wild
dogs used to wander about. When, therefore, they
requbed to lie down, they were obliged to make
several turnings in order to beat down the grass,
and prevent suffocation, and dogs of the present
day imitate tbeir ancestors, although they have no
longer any cause for doing so. It is diificult to see
what tbe dogs could have procured as food, unless
indeed, in those remote ages, they were graminivor-
ous animals, or viractised the horrid rites of canni-
balism ; and, judging froni my own experience of
walking iu long grass, I should think tbat, once
having attained a recumbent position, they would
be slow to rise to the perpendicular again. But
there are two facts which greatly invalidate this
theory. In tbe first place, the prairies at tbe pre-
sent day are occupied by the Wisb-ton-wish, or
Prairie-dog {Spermophilus Ltidovicianus), to the en-
tire exclusion of any species of our domestic dog.
This little animal, which may perhaps be tbe proge-
nitor of tbe canine genus, is a rodent, and burrows
a subterranean babitation after the manner of the
Mole, raising a mound, on which it sits in the day-
time. Tlius it certainly would not get into tbe
habit of lying iu tbe long grass. Moreover, this
way of turning round is not peculiar to dogs, but is
also shared by the less fortunate feline tribe. Dog-

HARDVyiCKE'S SCIEN CE-GOSSIP.

53

fanciers are apt to forget that there are other ani-
mals in existence besides their especial favourites
and, much-abused and little-noticed as they are, cats
possess many qualities worth studying, and a great
deal of instinctive cleverness which is not appreciated
by the world at large. Of course there are cats and
cats, and every one has not the same abilities ; but
it will be found that the excellences of the tabby
race are most valued by men of a high order of in-
tellect. But this is a digression.

Cats do not turn round quite so much as dogs, but
they do, as a rule, make oue or two gyrations before
they finally roll themselves in a ball ; and as cats are
undoubtedly a climbing race, and not accustomed
to sleep on the ground, and as most probably the
same effect is owing to the same cause both in dogs
and cats, we may reasonably infer that the Darwinian
theory in this respect is incorrect. It has been
affirmed that dogs always revolve three times ; but
this is a manifest absurdity, and palpably untrue.
It appears, however, that they [usually, if not always,
turn in the contrary direction to the sun (i. e. from
west to east), and this may be explained by the fact
that in so doing they recline on their right sides, a
practice almost universal among human beings, and
by no means confined to people with weak hearts.
Almost all shells have what is called a right-handed
spiral, and vegetables will each only climb by one
kind of spiral, the Hop one way, the Convolvulus the
other. There would seem, therefore, to be some
connection between the vegetable and animal worlds,
in this matter, and I believe that pigeons and large
birds, in ascending and descending, invariably de-
scribe the same helix. Can any other reader of
Science -Gossip throw light on this most interesting
subject?

Blachlieaih. E. C. Leekoy.

A GOSSIP ABOUT CANARIES.

r\^ all our "Feathered Eriends" it would be
^-^ difficult to find oue more familiar, sociable,
and cheerful than the Canary, becoming so remark-
ably tame, showing such pleasure in being noticed,
setting itself up so sprightly, tlioroughly entering
into the kindness bestowed, and answering every
word spoken to it. It will also show a great
deal of affection for those in the habit of noticing
it, calling loudly until something is said to it. I
knew an instance where one would come from its
cage at the ringing of a bell ; upon which it was
treated to a little sweet biscuit, hemp-seed, or
maw-seed, as a reward for obedience. If time and
care be given, the Canary may be trained to do
almost anything, and with moderate care at moult-
ing time a canary will live over ten years.

Some of our Yorkshire birds are very graceful,
but not so stronger such good songsters as the Nor-

wich birds. The song of the Canary, however poor,
is composed of imitations of the best song-birds the
world produces, e.g. the Nightingale, Woodlark,
Skylark, and Titlark. Not only has it this delight-
ful song, which in the above-mentioned birds lasts
only two or three mouths (the Woodlark excepted),
but it will sing its beautiful, changeable song
almost the whole year round. In the Canary we
get many shades of yellow, from the beautiful junk
to the mealy or almost white, with a great variety
of splashed birds, called by some persons " mule "
Canaries. Add to this the fancy birds, such as the
"Cinnamon," "Lizard" " London Pride " &c., and
we get a pleasing variety not found in any other
song-bird. Then, as a domestic pet for nesting and
rearing its young, the Canary is, as a caged bird,
without a rival. It will build its nest and bring up
its young with almost as much felicity as a bird in
the field; but to succeed, you should have a large
cage for each pair, or, if a double cage, it should
have a movable partition, so that when one hen is
at nest the male bird may be shifted to the other
hen. It is a common thing for canary hens to rear
their young without the assistance of the male bird.
If in an aviary, and you are not breeding fancy
birds, you may let your birds loose without pairing,
at the rate of one male to three hens ; and for all
purposes I would advise amateurs to try Norwich
birds. In one season from a pair of such I reared
twenty young ones ; German birds, on the contrary,
are almost certain to fail.

It will be found an excellent plan, in rearing
canaries in an aviary, to tie some twigs of birch at
the thick end, fastening them at the same time to a
small piece of wood at the place where tied, so as to
spread the birch in a semicircular form. The piece
of wood should be about the same size as the nest-
box. When this is done, place the diameter of the
semicircle against the wall, and drive a nail through
the part which is tied. You can then place your
nest-box in the centre, and all is ready. When the
young birds have left the nest, remove the whole,
and it may be easily cleansed. This is presuming
you have given them a corner of a room, just large
enough to give them a small tree in the centre and
a shallow pan to bathe in. Your birds should be
put together about the beginning of March, at
which time you must give them hard-boiled q^s,
and crumbed bread. There is no occasion to chop
the egg, merely take the shell off oue end and give
it to the birds in an egg-cup ; there will then be a
saving of time and less waste.

C. J. W. EUDD,

" North, south, east, and west,— on all sides birds
are to be found. Long before man appeared, they
were settled inhabitants of this eai thly sphere,"—
"Bird Lifer by Dr. Brehm.

54

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

THE BLIND PISHES OF THE KENTUCKY
MAMMOTH CAVE.

WHATEVER value in itself the Darwiuiau
theory of "Natural Selection" may pos-
sess, there can be no doubt that its promulgation
has given a marvellous impetus to natural science.
Many of the views taken in connection with it have
enabled us to understand certain phenomena which
before were inexplicable. Chief among these may
be mentioned the doctrine of retrogradation. It is
a mistake to suppose that the Darwinian theory
countenances progression only — it endeavours, also,
to explain degradation. Thus, on certain islands
the beetles are wingless, although nearly allied to
species in which the wings are well developed.
This is explainable on the ground that on islands
where the sea and land breezes blew strong, the
beetles best gifted with powers of flight would be
the first to suffer, would be carried seawards, and
perish; whilst the weakest-winged beetles would
stand the best chance of remaining behind, and of
stocking such islands with beetles that would
certainly inherit what would have been elsewhere a
defect in their parents, but which thus turned out
to be the means of the perpetuation of the race.

or semi-developed condition. The "Cat-fish,"
family {Sllurida) is interesting to naturalists on
account of the singuhir and diversified arrange luent
and position of the eyes of its members, which are
thus enabled to adapt tliemselves to a variety of
physical conditions such as are not so largely shared
by any other fishes. As regards the degree of
optical development, also, the eyes of the various
species are very peculiar. They range from partial
and even total blindness to perfect sight ; and are
placed in every possible position about the head.
The blind members of this group, however, seem to
inhabit subterranean streams, one species, taken in
the Conestoga river, Pennsylvania, having its eyes
quite rudimentary. This species was believed to
have found its way into the river from the subter-
ranean streams which are known to empty them-
selves into it.

The most striking feature about the appearance
of the blind fishes of the " Mammoth" cave is their
want of colour. This alone would indicate the
length of time during which they have existed out
of the light; whilst the darker shades of blind
fishes in other caverns equally point to a shorter
period during which the species has been exiled into
darkness. We mentioned in a zoological paragraph
last mouth, the various animals inhabiting this re-

Fig:. 35. Amblyopsis spel<£vs, nat. size.

This law of retrogradation, operating whenever
it is of advantage to the species operated upon, is,
perhaps, still better illustrated by the occurrence
in ancient caverns and subterranean rivers of
animals wholly or partially blind, which are never-
theless closely related to neighbouring species in
which the sight is in its normal condition. The
fishes of the celebrated "Mammoth" cave in Ken-
tucky have long been known to naturalists, and
regarded as curious freaks, rather than as illustra-
tive of the operation, of an important natural law.
The natural history of these fishes, and their rela-
tions to others of the piscine tribe which are found
occupying similar habitats elsewhere, have been care-
fully and elaborately treated upon by Professor
Putnam, in the American Naturalist for January
last. As is well known, we have fishes existing,
such as tlic Lancelet, in which not only the eye but
the entire nervous system is in a very nidimentary

markable cave, which were in a similar state of
blindness ; so that the limited subterranean fauna is
very interesting, as showing the effects of conditions
of life, not only on exterior form, but also on in-
ternal structure. The blind fish from this cave,
longest known to naturalists, is Amhhjopsis spe-
hcus (fig. 35), a name which indicates both its de-
fective vision and subterranean habitat. The eyes
of this fish are quite rudimentary ; but to make up
for this defect the head is covered with a number
of papilla;, or organs of touch, which the numerous
fine nerves leading to them indicate must b.c of a
very highly developed character. The nearest allies
of the Amlthjopsis are the Mimiows. How well the
sense of touch serves it is best shown by the fact
that smaller fish, upon which it fed, have been
found in its stomach. It is probable that the move-
ment of its prey in the wafer iuQuenced the delicate
tactile organs so as to enable it to follow the prey

BARDWICKE'S SCI EN CE-GOSSIP.

55

rapidlj^ The habits of the AmLbjopsis are solitary,
and, notwithstanding its blindness, it is extremely
ditficult to be caught. At the slightest motion of
the water it darts rapidly away, and then suddenly
stops. They come to the surface to feed, where
their tactile organs, being brought to the level of the
water, can be of most service. At this time, says
Professor Cope, they "swim in full siglit, like
white aquatic ghosts!" At any noise, down tliey
sink to the bottom, to hide beneath the rocks or
stones. The head is flat above, and thus enables
the mouth to be at the surface. Hence the tactile
organs and the mouth are placed in immediate
rapport. The number of eggs laid by these fish is
about one hundred ; but there is every reason for
believing they are hatched in the body ; so that the
fish is viviparous. Unfortunately, the condition of
sight in the young — a very important fact in the
history of the degradation of the eyesight of the
species — has never been carefully examined. The
length of the Amhlyopsis is about four ana a half
inches. So rudimentary are the eyes that they are
only exposed after the removal of the skin. Their
longest diameter is about the sixteentli of an inch.
The optic nerves are placed in contact with the
aborted eyes. Although mentioned as a charac-
teristic fish of the "Mammoth" cave, i\\^\Amhly-
opsis is by no means confined to it, but has quite an
extensive distribution, "probably existing in all the
subterranean rivers that flow through the great
limestone region, underlying the carboniferous rocks
in the central portion of the United States."

Fig. 36. Typhlichthys suhterraneus, nat. size.

Another species found associated in the cave with
the above is Typhlichthys suhterraneus (fig. 36), whose
name again illustrates its sightless condition. This
fish is only about an inch and a half in length, and
the next most peculiar character to its blindness is
that it is without ventral fins. It has been found
in natural wells as well as in the waters of this
extensive cavern, in Kentucky, Alabama, and Ten-
nessee. The fishes are all about the same size. All
the females yet examined contained only about thirty
eggs in their ovaries. The next remarkable genus
of fish, greatly resembling the above, from the same
geographical region, is Chologaster, of which there are
two species, — cormitus and Agassizii. The former
(fig, 37) was first found in the ditches of the South
Carolina rice-fields. It is only about three inches in
length, and is provided with eyes. Its specific name
is given to it on account of the horn-like projections
above the snout. It is believed to be a viviparous

fish, but, like the Typhlichthys, has no ventral fins.
Having eyes, it has none of the papillary ridges, or
organs of touch, possessed by the blind species above
named. It is further distinguished from its blind

Fig. 3/. Chologashr cornutus, nat. size.

neighbours by being coloured. Thus Chologaster
cornutus is brownish-yellow, with dark, longitudinal
bands ; whilst C. Agassizii (fig. 38) is of a brownish
colour, similar to many of the minnows. The latter
species is known only to the subterranean district
already mentioned, whilst the former extends to the
southern coasts, on the eastern side the Appalachian
chain.

Fig. 38. CJiologaster Agassizii, nat. size.

It seems strange to find blind fish, with rudi-
mentary eyes, living in the same subterranean waters
with other species in. which the eyesight is still pre-
served. .That the fonner have had their eyesight
atrophied, there can be little doubt, the position
and arrangement of the optic nerves being sulficient
proof. In many respects, however, the Chologaster is
a transitionary forui between the really blind fishes
and those living naturally in open waters. The only
explanation of the relations of these fish is, that
Amblyopsis and Typhlichthys have been tenants of the
subterranean district much longer than the Cholo-
gaster, and hence have been adapted to the circum-
stances more perfectly. How little is the value of
eyesight to the Chologaster is indicated by the Am-
hlyopsis preying upon it 1 This theory of the longer
habitaucy of these cave- waters by the former genera
is borne out by the fact of their white, colourless
skin, free from ornament, whereas the Chologaster
has both colour and stripes. Professor Putnam
thinks that originally the district now occupied by
these subterranean streams was a salt and brackish-
water estuary, in which the progenitors of these
fishes lived. As the waters became less brackish
and more fresh, and the district was elevated, only
such species would survive as could adapt them-
selves to the changes. Hence he belitves the
Chologaster cornutus living in the ditches of the
South Carolina rice-fields to be now living " under
very similar conditions to those under which others
of the family may liave lived in long preceding
geological times." The Professor, it should be

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE- GOSSIP.

said, believes in the immutability of the species
notwithstanding — a position which, we think, he
hardly makes sufficiently clear to produce con-
viction. J. E. Tai'lok.

REMARKS ON POLYTHOA INVESTING
THE GLASS-ROPE SPONGE.

By E. KiTTON.

O INCE the publication of my paper on Hyalonema
'^ in the last number of Science-Gossip, I have
had an opportunity of making further examination
of the curious parasitic growth generally found upon
the anchoring spicula ["the Glass-rope "]. I stated
in my previous remarks that I had found, on the Rev.
J, Crompton's specimens, the Polythoa investing

Fig. 39. Polythoa on Hyalonema.

the ribbon-like fronds of some species of algse, and
also that I found it growing on a small piece of
some frondose alga that had become entangled on
the Glass-rope. On making a microscopic examina-
tion, this proves to be a portion of the ova-case of a
species of dog-fish. Pig. 39 represents the ova-case
with investing Polythoa of the natural size ; tig. 40,
one of the tubercles enlarged about six diameters.

Fig. 40. Polytlina enlarged.

The examination of the Polythoa, when found apart
from the sponge, has enabled me to ascertain the
spicules peculiar to it, and to correct some. of my
previous statements. Pigs. 24 and 25 appear to
be the only forms of spicula really belonging to

the Polythoa. My previous observation had been
made on the forms obtained by boiling a portion of
the rope and Polythoa in nitric acid. This of course
not only separated the spicula imbedded in the
coriaceous substance of the Polythoa, but also the
various forms of spicula interwoven in the inter-
stices of the Glass-rope.

The examination of the Polythoa after soaking
in water for some days, revealed the presence of
minute grains of sand, showing slight traces of
arrangement : this is most conspicuous on the
ridges of the tubercles. After the destruction of
the animal matter by nitric acid, the sUiceous re-
mains consist of sand and spicula in about equal
proportions.

A careful examination of this parasite in a living
state, or a specimen preserved inspirit, is necessary
for a complete elucidation of this very remarkable
organism.

BEES IN THE HIMALEH MOUNTAINS.

T ITTLE is knoM'n relative to the domestication
-*-' of bees in these mountains, even by those long-
resident on the spot, and much interest has of late
been evinced in many quarters, notably by the late
Mr. Woodbury, of Exeter, in an attempt to import
and acclimatize the Apis dorsata, or wild bee, here-
inafter alluded to, on account of its greater range of
feeding and superior productiveness. I make, there-
fore, no apology for republishing the remarks of
that careful and eminent traveller Moorcroft, as
recorded in his " Ladakh, and Resources of the
Hills," vol. i. cap. ii. page 51 :— "The domestic bee
is known by the name of malira, mohri, and mari ; *
it is not much above half the size of that of Europe,
but is very industrious and mild-tempered.

"The wild beef is termed hhaonra, a name by
which the people of the plains designate the hum-
ble bee ; but it is not half the bulk of that insect,
though larger than the domestic bee of Europe. It
is of a darker colour generally, and has larger and
broader wings. Its temper is irascible, and sting
venomous. It commonly builds its nest under pro-
jecting ledges of rock, overhanging steep mural
precipices, in a situation almost inaccessible to bears
and men. The hive [comb ?] contains a large quan-
tity of both wax and honey. The latter, if gathered
before the month oiBIiadra (about August), is fully
equal to that of the domestic bee ; but in that and
the following month it is said to produce intoxica-
tion followed by stupefaction. The effect is, with
some probability, ascribed to the bees feeding on
the flower of a species oi aconite, which is in bloom
in Bhadra and Asarh (September), and which, grow-

* Apis iiigrucincta, or Indica.
t Apis dorsata.

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

57

ing high up m the mountains, is beyond the flight
of the domestic bee."

All this I can confirm, having travelled in the
parts of the hills vrhcre this wild bee abounds.
It is also found in the plains, everywhere in the
North-west Provinces, and has been described by
me in a paper on " Indian Hymenoptera," in the
Transactions of the Zoological Society of London, in
June, 1869.

Here, however, the cells are seen depending in
huge black masses on the lower sides of the larger
boughs of forest-trees, and the natives are in general
afraid to approach them.

They are so wicked that I fear they could never

be domesticated, although the attempt was once

made with very partial success by General Hearsay.

Should the readers of Science-Gossip wish it, I

will send the report of that experiment, cut out

from the Exeter paper, for their amusement and

information.

C. HoKNE, E.Z.S., late B. C. S.

Newcome, January 29, 1872.

CURIOUS HABITS OF SWALLOWS.

I HAVE imbibed many of the tastes of Gilbert
White; but that which engrosses me most,
and which I may call my hobby, is the natural
history of the Swallow tribe. I have read that
swallows will " mob " and put to flight a kestrel
hawk. This I was rather sceptical of until lately,
when my doubts were removed by that most con-
vincing of proofs, — ocular demonstration. I had
gone to see an old castle in the neighbourhood,
which was built on the only hill for miles round,
and was therefore tolerably certain to be the haunt
of a pair or two of hawks. I accordingly kept my
eyes open, in the expectation of seeing one, and I
was soon rewarded by the appearance over the brow
of the hill of a bird, which, by its graceful poise
and the hovering motion of its wings, I knew to be
a kestrel. His active little enemies, the swallows,
a flock of whom were disporting themselves close
by, had been as quick to see him as I. These at
once advanced to meet the intruder, and, with the
utmost audacity, brushed past him in all directions,
one from one quarter and one from another, each
wheeling after it had swept by and returning to the
charge, while the hawk made futile dashes now and
again, but was always too late to do any damage to
his nimble little opponents. At last, tired of waging
an unequal war, and obliged to own iiimself con-
quered, he beat a hasty retreat. He was not,
however, allowed to get off so easily, but was fol-
lowed up by his victorious foes ; and the apparent
mystery of such little birds proving more than a
match for such a formidable-looking antagonist,
armed literally cap-a-pie as he was, was quite cleared

up ; for as he made off", evidently at his best speed,
the swallows, with the utmost ease, when left at an
apparently hopeless distance behind, fetched him
up, then passed him (in what appeared to me most
dangerous proximity), wheeled round, met him on
their return journey, and then, taking another sharp
turn to the right-about, repassed him, and conti-
nued repeating these manffiuvres a dozen times or
more. The solution of the mystery lay in their
extraordinary powers of flight. The way in which
the swallows made straight for him, apparently bent
on a personal encounter, and then, when the kestrel
was reckoning on clutching them in his talons,
gliding away at a tangent, Avas, though no doubt
tantalizing to the hawk, none the less amusing
and interesting to me. To crown all, when the
others had left ofl" the chase, presumably not think-
ing it worth their while to pursue any further, it
was curious to watch one solitary individual carry
it on alone with such seemingly unrelenting vigour
that he seemed actuated by feelings of the direst
revenge. However that might be, the swallow cer-
tainly effectually prevented the discom.fited foe
from pausing in his enforced retreat. I watched
both until pursued and pursuer vanished from my
sight. I dare say the little swallow continued the
pursuit until he had wearied and exhausted the
hawk. On another occasion I witnessed a little
incident which has, to the best of my knowledge,
the merit of novelty ; and so I hope you will excuse
my telling it. I saw a hare running across a large
park by the wayside, and was looking about to see
what had started it, but could not imagine what it
could be, as neither man nor dog was in siglit. It
started again (for it had stopped and sat in a
listening attitude), and then I saw that the dis-
turbers were a flight of swallows, who were following
it up like a pack of hounds ; now one and now
another skimming past the hare's ears along the
ground, while the poor timid creature was putting
its best foot foremost ; but all to no purpose, for
its relentless tormentors seemed to take pleasure
in its fright, and to enjoy the sport of teasing it. I
followed the Kttle group until an undulation of the
park iiid it from ray view, and was greatly sur-
prised to see the dexterity with which the swallows
calculated their distance so as to impress the hare
with the idea they were flying straight at her,
and yet, wheu they were on the point of dashing
against her, took a sharp turn and swept off in a
curve, to renew the attack again the next moment.
I will close my epistle with an anecdote related by
the Rev. Philip Skelton, as having come under his
own observation, which seems to be appropriate,
and which, I believe, will be new to most, if not all,
the readers of this paper. I give it in his own
words : — " I have entertained a great affection and
some degree of esteem for sw^allows ever since I
saw a remarkable instance of their sense and

HAPtDWlCKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

humour played off upon a cat which had, upon a
very fine day, seated herself upon the top of a gate-
post, as if in contemplation ; when ten or a dozen
swallows, knowing her to be an enemy, took it into
their heads to tantalize her in a manner which
showed a high degree not only of good sense but of
humour. One of these birds, coming from behind
her, flew close by her ear, and she made a snap at
it with her paw, but it was too late. Another
swallow, in five or six seconds, did the same, and
she made the same unsuccessful attempt to catch
it. This was followed by a third, and so on to the
number just mentioned ; and every one, as it passed,
seemed to set up a laugh at the disappointed enemy,
very like the laugh of a young child when tickled.
The whole number, following one another at the
distance of about three yards, formed a regular
circle in the air, and played it off like a wheel,
at her ear for near an hour, not seemingly at all
alarmed at me, who stood within six or seven yards
of the post. I eujoyed this sport as well as the
pretty birds, till the cat, tired out with disappoint-
ment, quitted the gatepost, as much huffed, I
believe, as 1 had been diverted." G. E. R.

NOTES ON THE WEB- WEAVING
CATERPILLARS.

THE majority of insects producing cocoons and
webs are found chiefly in the great group of
Nocturni, formely called Bcmhtjces, from the Greek
jioj-itvi, a silkworm. In the other divisions of
motlis, the pupa is genearally either subterra-
nean or concealed in leaves spun together. Nearly
all our butterflies belong to the Detegentes, or
Exposers, with the exception of the Hesperidse,
which are placed under the Celantes, or Concealers.
The pupae of the Noctuas are generally subterra-
nean, although in them also there are exceptions.
In England there is but one butterfly constructing
a web ; this is the Black-veined White {dporia
cratcegl), which, though here too scarce to do any
damage, is on the Continent classed among
noxious insects. It feeds on the Whitethorn, and
appears on the wing in June and July. This
species appears to be gradually becoming extinct,
as it is now scarce where it was formerly abundant.

The conimonest of the web-weavers is the larva
of the Lackey-moth {Bombyx neustria), which may
be seen on most hedges in the middle of June. It
also attacks fruit-trees, and is often sufficiently
common to be injurious. The most peculiar circum-
stance, however, concerning the Lackey is the
manner in which the female deposits her eggs. The
Rev. J. G. Wood, in " Homes without Hands,"
gives the following account of the manner in which
she proceeds, and also of the origin of the name.

" When the mother insect lays her eggs, she

deposits them on a small branch or twig, disposing
them in a ring that completely encircles the twig, as
a bracelet encircles a lady's wrist. When she has
completed the circle, she covers the edge with a
kind of varnish, which soon hardens, and forms a
perfect defence from the rain. The varnish is so
hard and binds the eggs so firmly together, that if
the twig be carefully severed, the whole mass of
eggs can be slipped off entire. As this tarnish
produces the same effect as lacquer does on
polished metal, preserving the surface and defending
it from rust, the insect is called the ' Lacquer,' a
word that has been corrupted into 'Lackey.' " A
caterpillar well known to gardeners is that of the
little Ermine-moth (Tinea padelld). The web of
the larva seems designed to protect it from the
attacks of birds, which seem unable to break
through the tough outside case of the web. But
although this may be a means of shelter from birds,
it exposes them to a danger scarcely less formidable,
inasmuch as, the web being very conspicuous, the
larv£E may be destroyed in detail. It is fortunate
that it is so, for as each web contains an immense
number of inhabitants, were each larva to come to
maturity, there would soon be scarcely a leaf left
on our fruit and may-trees, which plants are the
especial victims of its attacks.

An insect tolerably well known, but not quite so
common as the two last, is the Gold-tail {Leparis
auriflm). This moth has in its larval stage the
power of " urtication," that is to say, it stings
worse than nettles. The caterpillar itself is a very
pretty insect, the colours beiug black and scarlet,
mingled with white. It is found in June, feeding
ou' the Blackthorn [Primus spimsa). Another
moth that occasionally swarms in some years,
whilst in others it is hardly to be found, is the
Brown-tail {Leparis chrysorrhcea'). It is very nearly
allied to the foregoing, the chief distinction being
that the tuft at the end of the tail is brown instead
of yellow. A web-spiuner that must be well known
to the readers of Science-Gossip is the small Eggar.
moth {Eriogaster lanestris) ; but it has been so fully
discussed iu these pages, that there is no need to
write more. The Kentish Glory (Eudromis versi-
color) is another of our web-weavers : it was once,
as its name imports, found iu Kent. Its principal
habitats are Rannoch Woods, near Perth, being
very scarce in the couuty from which it takes its
name. The reason why some larvse should provide
themselves with webs, whilst others content them-
selves with the shelter of the foliage, has never been
satisfactorily explained. There is no perceptible
difference in the organization of caterpillars, nor
are the larvae of the web-spiimers apparently more
delicate than those of other Lepidoptera. Nor is
the use of the web itself very evident. In the case
of the little Ermine-moth, it is evidently intended
as a means of safety from birds ; its utUity iu other

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

59

cases is not so plain. The Lackey is one of those
insects that are protected by some strange natural
law from molestation by birds. The web cannot be
needed in its case. Cannot some of the readers o f
Science-Gossip give us some ideas on the subject ?
Nottlng Hill. C. Lovekin.

GEYLLUS VIRIDISSIMUS.

ON the evening of Monday, September 11th, I
had a beautifid Gryllus viridissimus brought
to me. It was found on some dry grass, just where
a hedge had been recently cut down, and was in
perfect condition, and very lively.

I had not any previous knowledge of the insect,
but I imagined it must be a kind of locust, so I
expected it to be a very voracious creature— a
devourer of any green thing. I did not at the time
remember that it had been noticed in Science-
Gossip ; and, as I had an engagement, I put it into
a well-ventilated box with a glass lid, and, having
supplied it with a quantity of fresh grass for food,
left 'it to its fate for the day. On the Wednesday
morning I could not discover that it had eaten any
of the grass, and it appeared to have lost both bulk
and vitality. However, 1 gave it a slice of apple,
upon which it fed eagerly, making quite a little
cavity by the action of its mandibles, and growing
evidently stouter and more lively in consequence.
I soon after took a vralk to the spot where the
insect bad been found, and gathered a sprig of
every plant which grew near, hoping in this way to
ascertain its preferences. I arranged in a vase,
dog-rose, hawthorn, dogwood, bramble, nettle, hore-
hound, clover, &c., and placed them under a glass
shade, which rested on a perforated stand, with a
patch of fresh turf at the foot of the vase, and then
transferred my G. viridissimus to its new quarters,
with which it seemed very well pleased. It walked
deliberately over all the dowers and sprays, but did
not attempt to eat any, and it finally rested with
great apparent contentment upon a rose-leaf. I
supplied it with a fresh piece of apple, and then
turned to my volumes of Science-Gossip for in-
formation. I was rewarded by finding a very
interesting article, headed "The Large [.Green
Grasshopper {Acrida viridissima)." The writer
remarks that, notwithstanding these names, the
iisect is really neither a grasshopper nor a^locust,
bit that it belongs to the Gryllidae, or Cricket
family ; and in a little book, " The World^of In-
serts," I find it is called Gryllus viridissimus. My
spe>imen has all the distinguishing characters of
the iJryllida; : thighs of posterior legs large ; tibise
ai'mel with spines ; abdomen terminated by .two
slende. fleshy appendages; tarsi of the anterior
and inermediate pairs of legs three-jointed ; au-
itennae Ing, and a long ovipositor.

I refer to this because the habits of my viridissi'
mus differed somewhat from those described in
Science-Gossip, and it might be thought that the
insects were not the same.

Acting upon the information I gained, I supplied
my Gryllus with cabbage-stalk, but it disregarded
it, and preferred the apple. 1 gave it raw beef,
cooked beef, flies, a caterpillar, a grasshopper, and
a ladybird. All were touched both by its antennas
and its tarsi, but it did not attempt to devour any,
though each remained some hours under the glass
with it. The living things all came out unhurt, and
the meat was not eaten. It still preferred the
apple ; but as I feared it did not eat enough for a
creature of its size, I put in a large plum whole.
This it immediately mounted, and made a cushion
of for a considerable time, its bright green colour
contrasting very prettily with the purple fruit, but
it did not break the skin. For ten days it ate
nothing that I gave it but the apple, and it looked
well and was very active. I cannot help thinking
that it gained part of its nourishment by gathering
animalculfe both with its palpi and tarsi. The
almost continual movements of the palpi, described
by Mr. Ulyett as " cleaning its teeth," seemed to
me to be the gathering in of its invisible food; and
on examining the palpi with a lens, I found they
were covered with delicate cilia, and this, I thought,
gave additional probability to the idea. I fully
agree with the opinion that the frequent application
of the tarsi to its mouth was not for the purpose
of making them glutinous, as it often put them there
when it was walking about upon my hands, and I
never felt them at all sticky ; but I think it carried
them to its mouth not only for the purpose of
keeping them clean, but also to convey invisible
food, for I have watched precisely the same mo-
tions when it has been resting upon a leaf, and not
n.oving from place to place at all.

My Gryllus viridissimus was really a most elegant
creature ; its colours were just those of a young,
vigorous autumn shoot of Rusa caniiia, which, with
some other sprays, I placed within the glass.
Over these sprays it travelled with evident satis-
faction, sometimes leaping from side to side,
sometimes clasping the stem, and at other times
reposing head downwards upon one of the leaves.
In its positions of perfect rest you could not
readily distinguish it, its appearance "was so leaf -
like. Not only were its movements very fascinat-
ing, but it was so tame and friendly that it quite
gained upon one's affections : it would leap about
the table, and from the table to the carpet, always
allowing itself to be recaptured on presenting it
a finger ; so that there was no danger of hurting it.
I gave it some pieces of apple, cut very thin. It
just lifted up the edge with two of its palpi, and
then nibbled away; once it ate in my hand. But
after ten days a change came over it. It would

CO

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE-GO S SIP.

remain quiet for hours in some elegant, graceful
position on a rose-spray, and then it would descend
and appear restless; its ovipositor, from being
horizontal, would become perpendicular, and it was
evidently anxious to deposit some eggs ; but, for
some reason or other, it failed to do so. On these
occasions it avoided the turf, moss, and mould, but
it made many little holes in the muslin which
covered the perforations of the stand ; and once
it pressed its ovipositor with some force on the
palm of my hand, but it did not deposit eggs any-
where.

Just fourteen days after its capture the poor little
thing died. Whether tlie cause of its death was its
failing to deposit eggs, as it evidently_had an in-
clination to do, or whetlier it did not get the food it
preferred, I cannot tell. I should be very glad to
know more of the habits of this interesting insect.

E. A. M.

MANNA or THE DESERT.

AN EDIBLE LICHEN.

A VALUED correspondent, B. W., having sent
me some notes on this production, which he
hopes may prove of interest, and elicit further
information from some of your readers, I beg to
hand them to you, with some additions to the
literature of the subject.

Figs. 41, 42. Lichen esculenttis (barren and fertile specimens).

Tlie discovery of this curious plant is due to
Pallas, who named it Lichen csculentns, and de-
scribed and figui-ed it in his great work,"Ileise durch
Verschied. Proviuzeu dcs Russischen Reiches,"
torn. iii. p. 700, T. II. lig. 4 (1770). As this book
is not accessible to the general reader, I give copies
of the figures, which are of the natural size, and
add a translation of his character. "Corpiisculcs
free, oblong, composed of a convolute, thick cori-

aceous white crust, externally wrinkled and tuber -
culose, grey or pale ash-colour. Apothecia rare,
immersed, excavated, somewhat prominent, like
warts. Occurs thickly among stones in the very
driest limestone hills of the Tartarian desert,
scarcely distinguishable from small stones, except
by the expert." In the modern system the plant
belongs to the genus Lecanora, and will stand as
Lecanora esculenta, Duf. ; Placodium Sustcfii also
being a synonym.

Mr. Berkeley tells us that Dr. Arthaud published
a pamphlet to prove that this must have been the
manna with which the Israelites were fed, and the
same view is supported by Giles Munby, Esq., in a
paper", on the botanical productions of the kingdom
of Algiers, read at Birmingham in 1849, before
the British Association for the Advancement of
Science, and published in Annals of Nat. History
for Dec. 1849, p. 426.

Mr. Munby resided many years in Algeria, and
be tells us that it covers the sand in some parts,
and grows during the niglit like mushrooms, and
also that the French soldiers during an expedition

Fig. 43. Section of the margin of a lobwle, from Algerian
specimens, x so.

south of Coustautirie, subsisted on it for some
days cooking it in various ways and making it
into bread.

The specimens received from B. W. were collected ■
at Reboud Djelfa, in the desert south of the Great /
Atlas chain, and arc not one-fifth the size of those
figured by Pallas : in appearance they precisely re-
resemble gum ammoniacum, but are lighter, and
and when soaked in water, of a corky consistence;
their taste is slightly bitter, and internally they aie
of a starchy nature. A section under the microscope
shows numerous gonidia imbedded in the th.ck
cortical layer a lil tie below the surface. It viU
thus be seen that the manna of the desert has
notiiiug in common with the manna of our shcps, a
saccharine exudation from Fraximts ornus, nc/ with
the similar "manna of Mount Sinai" fi;>m the
Tamarix munnifcra. /

Presuming that the lichen is the same a/ that or

HARDWICKE'5 SCIEN CE-GOSSIP.

61

which the children of Israel were fed, there is really
little inconsistent with the Scriptural account ;
allowing that the mauna was miraculously supplied,
it might still be brought about by natural agency,
for Mr. Berkeley further mentions that, lying loose
on the ground, without any attachment, it is easily
rolled along by the wind, and sometimes piled
together in strata several inches in thickness. Nay,
more, it is still, occasionally rained from heaven,
being carrid up by whirlwinds, and after traversing
the air for many miles, falls precisely as the
showers of fish, frogs, and gnats' larvaj, which
afford sensational pira-jraphs for our own news-
papers. Such a shower of these lichens fell about
twenty years ago at Erzeroum, during a time of
great scarcity; this bread from heaven affording
opportune relief to the inhabitants. Probably, as
Mr. Munby suggests, when gathered alive and
placed in a heap, it would in such a climate soon
ferment, and then " breed worms and stink ;" the
injunction to gather it daily might therefore liave
a sanitary import, and as a double quantity was
collected on the day preceding the sabbath, little
would be found on that day ; but the Biblical narra-
tive tells us, that which remained over on the
sabbath "did not stink." Tlie characters also of
the manna do not accord in all points, — " as small as
lioar frost on the ground— it was like coriander
seed, white, and the taste like wafers made with
honey."

Whether the manna of the wilderness was or
was not a natural product is fully discussed in the
Dictionary of the Bible (published by Murray in
1863, and the work of sixty-seven of the most
eminent divines) ; from which it would appear to
have been always considered an open question ; the
Lichen esculentus, Pallas, does not, however, seem
to have been known to them, or it would no doubt
have been noticed, and also the peculiarity that it
may be gathered all the year round.

K. Braituwaite.

VARIOUS PORMS OP POLLEN-GRAINS.

"PVURING a walk last summer through my fields,
-*-^ when getting over a wall, 1 was surprised
to see my boots changed from black to a golden
tinge ; naturally I felt inquisitive to learn what
this proceeded from. On examining them closer
with my Coddington lens, I found that the beau-
tiful yellow colour proceeded from an accumu-
lation of the pollen of the various M-ild flowers
which vv'cre then in bloom. I gathered about a
, dozen flowers of the different wild plants that
grew around where I was standing. When even-
ing came I amused myself by subjecting the
pollen of them to an investigation under my micro-
scope ; it was amazing to see the numerous forms

each tiny grain presented, and the beauteous sym -
metry of their varied markings. I was so pleased
at the end of my research that I determined next
day to get a fresh supply of the same flowers and
sketch their uncommon pollen-grains. This I ac-
cordingly did, and now enclose sketches of the same,
giving them their common as well as botanical names.

Fig. 44. Pollen of Bladder Campion, Broad-leaved Helleborine,

and Scabuisa arvensis.

The objects were principally magnified with a half-
inch objective, and some few of the larger ones with
an inch power and A eyepiece. I feel sure these
curiously-shaped pollen will be interesting to many

Fig. 45. Pollen of Potamogetnn densum, SanguUorba offici-
nalis, and Eye-bright.

of your botanical readers. I think, however, as I
am writing on this subject, it will not be out of place
if I give a brief sketch of the function of the pollen
of a flower, and the part it takes in the economy

Fig. 46. Pollen of Cnicus lanceolfity.i, Jucundus conglomeratus,
and Orobus luberustcs,

of the plant creation. The pollen has the peculiar
power of fructifying each seed which is growing in
the ovary of the plant ; the anthers contain the
pollen-grains, and as soon as the flower comes into

Fig. 47. Pollen of Hiemcium submidwn, Erica ciliaris, and
Mentha viridis.

full bloom, the pistil, then fully developed, has on
the surface of its stigma a viscid fluid, which makes
the pollen adhere to it. When the anther has reach e d
its zenith, the pollen falls off into a channel, which
conveys it into the ovary underneath. There are

G3

HAUDWICKE'S S CIE NCE-GOSSIP.

many cells in the tiny pollen-grain, and a fluid called
I'ovilla, which gives the creative power to the ovule.
As soon as the pollen falls on the stigma it sends
forth a tube, long or short, as the case may be ; this
descends through the style, enters the ovary, reaches
the ovule, pouring in the fovilla, which gives life to
the future plant, which it preserves and nourishes
in the seed. The quantity of pollen in a plant is
astonishing; but when it is recollected the number-
less insects which feed on it, it can then be under-
stood that an all-wise Creator has made provision
for the different vicissitudes of the vegeiable king-
dom. In conclusion, my reason for selecting the
pollen of wild flowers instead of cultivated ones,
was, that there are many persons who have not ac-
cess to flower-gardens, especially those who live in
towns, and hence cannot investigate the subject for
themselves ; whereas, in the wide garden of nature,
all can easily go into the green fields and gather the
various flowers they care for, and by an examination
of their varied pollen-grain, can gain both informa-
tion and pleasure at a very small expense, granting,
of course, that they possess a microscope of moderate
magnifying power. The pollen-grains look charming
when illuminated with a parabolic reflector, which
throws them out in bold relief from the black back-
ground. Pollen-grains are very easily mounted by
shaking the grains off on a piece of black paper and
drying them carefully ; then mount them in a shallow
cell, on black paper, as an opaque object— the larger
kind are the best for this purpose, such as the Mal-
low, Hollyhock, &c. ; some of the darker-coloured
pollen can very well be mounted in balsam. This
operation requires to be carefully done, as the pollen,
being soft, can be seriously injured by over-pressure.
Having many of these specimens in my collection, I
can well testify that tliey are highly interesting, even
to those who have little interest in the subject, but
still admire them, on account of their eccentricity
of form. Ealph H. Westkopp, A.B., T.C.D.

MICEOSCOPY.

Aebobescent Slides.— If a few drops of the
solution of nitrate of silver be placed in a clean
copper cell cemented upon a glass slide, the growth
of crystals of metallic silver will immediately start
from the margin of the inclosed space and proceed
with great regularity towards the centre. Crystals
of the newly-formed compound, nitrate of copper,
will be deposited upon the surface of the silver as
the water evaporates, but by carefully immersing
the slide in clean water these will be redissolvcd,
and thus easily got rid of; when thus washed, the
arborescent silver may be mounted either dry or
in fluid, without in any way injuring or disturbing
it, as will almost invariably be the case when it is
precipitated upon a wire, as recommended by your

correspondents in Science- Gossip, pp. 17 and 47.
Slides of arborescent lead may be prepared in the
same way from a solution of acetate of lead in a
zinc cell (or by " P. K.'s " plan with a small skred of
zinc). The similarity between the crystals of silver
and lead has frequently been remarked, and it will
be remembered that in nature these metals are con-
stantly found in combination. Arborescent silver
may also be prepared in great perfection by decom-
posing a solution of the nitrate by means of a weak
galvanic current. The terminal wires in this case
should be of platinum, and may be conveniently
brought upon the stage of the microscope
through two pieces of small glass tube mounted
in the same way as the stage forceps : they both
hold and insulate the wires and admit of movement
in any required direction. A commutator — or con-
trivance for breaking or reversing the current— in-
troduced between the jjlatinum terminals and the
battery will add very greatly to the interest of the
experiment ; a cell or trough containing the solution
should then be placed upon the stage and the ends
of the platinum W'ires immersed in it. On making
the connection with the battery an exquisitely
beautiful growtli of silver fern-like crystals viill
immediately take place upon the wire, connected
with the positive plate, a simultaneous growth of
prismatic crystals starting from the opposite wire.
On breaking the current the growth will instantly
cease, and on reversing it the curious cfi'ect of the
disappearance of the crystals in the inverse order
of their growth will be seen until all have been re-
dissolved, when a fresh growth will immediately
commence upon the"opposite wires ; and this alter-
nate growth and «;/-growth may be repeated any
number of times by a careful experimenter, to whom
details as to illumination, magnifying power, &c.,
will be unnecessary here. It is, however, important
to mention that only a loealc current should be
employed, as otherwise the process goes on too
rapidly for convenient observation, and bubbles of
gas are apt to be disengaged from the wires, which,
in addition to disturbing the general tranquillity
of the fluid, will be sure to detach the crystals
themselves. A single cell of the smallest size
" Leclanche " battery, or one of "Walker's" con-
taining very diluted acid, will be found amply suffi-
cient for Ihe purpose. The foregoing experiment;
was detailed in the course of a paper read by the
writer at one of the early meetings of the Quekett
Club, but may yet be interesting to some readers
of Science-Gossip, seeing that the subject has
recently been revived in its pages. — R. T. L.

Maltwood's PiNDER.— This little instrument, so
well known to microscopists, has perhaps not been
so generally adopted as it deserves to be. This- has
arisen from two causes, the first being the some-
what cumbrous method of registration usually

HAllDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

63

adopted, and, secondly, from difficulty of fiuding
au object registered by differeut observers and
"finders," arising from sliglit errors in the Einder
itself, and also from the various methods of
registration adopted by different observers. Mr.
W. K. Bridgeman, president of the Norfolk
and Norwich Microscopical Societj', has sug-
gested a plan which, by the aid of a very simple
piece of apparatus, obviates, to a very considerable
extent, the above-named objections to the Tinder.
He inserts in the eyepiece over the diaphragm' an
"indicator." This can be made in the following
manner : Unscrew the top of the eyepiece, so as to
expose the diaphragm ; cut a piece of card to fit
firmly over it ; draw a line across the diameter of the
disk of card, and cut an aperture in it of the same
size as that in tlie diiiphragm ; cut a little notch in
the ring in the same direction as the line, and gum
a line bristle in it, the point reaching nearly to the
centre ; when dry, phce in the eyepiece (close to the
diaphragm) and scre\y in the eye lens, and the indica-
tor is ready for use. Finders are only necessary when
the object is minute, or very rare on the slide, and the
higher powers are used. One of the squares in Malt-
wood's finder usually fills the whole of the field of a ^
objective ; and if it so happened that au object always
occupied the same position as a square, no great
difficulty would be found in the registration of its
position ; but it more frequently occurs that portions
of squares only are in the field ; as for example, —

?»

or

111

1|2-

"When this is the case, the indi-

cator will be found of the greatest use. Bring the
object to be registered close to the point of the
bristle, remove the slide, and put (he Dnder in
its place, and note the exact position of the
point. We will suppose that the figures are

the dot representing the point of the indi-

the position of the object must then be
1

cator
registered thus :

-] ., the dot always representing

the exact position of the object when in the centre
of the field. The rule for notation is that the
square on which the pointer rests is that which
must be written down. The error existing be-
tween two finders may be detected and remedied
in the following manner : Place the finder on the
stage, and bring the centre square into view, which

would appear thus

25

remove it and put an

ordinary glass slide in its place ; make a small per-
foration in a gummed label ; moisten it, and slip it
on the slide, so that the aperture is central. The
slide thus prepared can then be sent with the slides
requiring examination ; the second observer will
then test his own finder by the slide, and the error,
if any, noted. I have tried the plan proposed by
Mr. Bridgeman, and find that it answers admirably.

One or two slight improvements may perhaps be
made — a ring of thin brass might be substituted for
card, and a small brass pin soldered into it for the
purpose of removing it from the eyepiece when re-
quired, and in place of the bristle, a piece of fine
spun glass will be found preferable ; indeed, so slight
a portion of the field is occupied by it, that the in-
dicator may always remain in the eyepiece, and will
be found useful in calling another observer's atten-
tion to any object, or part of an object, that may bo
desired. The test slide may be made a more per-
manent record by marking the centre with a small
ink-dot, and when dry, ruling (with a diamond) two
lines at right angles to each other across the dot ;
the point of intersection will then be found in the
centre of the field. — F. Kitton.

A New Goniojieter Eyepiece. — Dr. Porter
and Mr. J. P. Southworth have succeeded in mak-
ing an eyepiece micro neter and goniometer, which
they say, equal in cheapness and accuracy, and are
much cheaper, than any yet seen. The objection to
the eyepiece micrometer in use is the lack of bold-
ness in tbe division lines, which makes them faint,
and hurtful to the eyes. To overcome this objection,
they have been led to make micrometers by the aid
of photography, and have succeeded. The advan-
tages of their goniometers over that ordinarily in
use, is, that the angles of the crystal and the degrees
of the goniometer are on the same line of sight
within the tube of the microscope, while in the
ordinary goniometer the degrees are marked outside
the tube. The photographic processes by means of
which this is achieved are not new, but may be
learned in any work on that subject.

B 0 T A 2^ Y.

Ranunculxts PiCAUiA, L.— A common name for
this species sometimes met with in our Ploras is
" Lesser Celandine." This is a deceptive and con-
fusing name ; it is really a corruption of CIielidGiiium,
and the name of celandine should with propriety
only be applied to Chelidonium majus. The true
English name for this plant is Pllewort. Every one
who observes the " little things of nature" must have
noticed the peculiar whitening of the glossy golden
petals after they have been fully expanded about
fourteen days. Sometimes they appear with only
white patches in different parts of the petals ; at
others, it commences at the tip, and runs half or
two-thirds down the petals. Underneath the white
patch appears as if the cellular matter was in a
state of decay. The corolla is not marcescent, as
in the Campanulas (Bellflowers). The term marces-
cent cannot be applied to a deciduous corolla, and
without doubt the petals of the Pilewort are
deciduous. I am nut aware that any satisfactory

64

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE- GOSSIP.

reason has been assigned for tliis peculiar pheno-
menon, which does not exist only in this species,
bat may be seen in several buttercups. The changes
going on in the petals of the Alkanet, Evening
Primrose, &c., are different to the Pilewort. In the
Evening Primrose the corolla does not suffer the
loss of colour ; it is only more intense, as from light
yellow often to bright pink, or purple; on the
contrary, the Alkanet changes from blue to pink.
May not the following be assigned as one reason for
this change ?— at all events it is in harmony with
first principles. At the season when the Pilewort
begins to bloom, very few flowers are to be met
with. The brilliant petals may then be designed to
attract the honey-bee, so as to bring about more
effectually the fertilization of the ovules : this
being a accomplished, the corolla begins at once to
exhibit the white blotches. After the whitened
and withered-looking petals appear, the bee never
visits the flower. I speak now from my own
limited observation, which may not be in strict
accordance with the observations of other botanists.
The carpels are but loosely placed on the receptacle,
and are easily displaced. If they fall before they
are fully matured, of course germination cannot
take place : thus the speckled petals may be pro-
duced solely to repel bees and other insects. The
petals vary much, both in number and size ; this
may depend to a great extent on the richness or
fertility of the soil in which they are growing. The
R. ficaria of Linnaeus is now divided into two
very distinct varieties, recognized chiefly by the
variation in the leaf {see Syme's " English Botany ")•
The botanical reader will do well to keep a look-
out this spring, as their distribution does not seem
to be well ascertained. The one named R. divercjer.s,
E. Schultz, appears the most frequent ; whereas, so
far as I am informed, the R. incumbeus is rare in
our northern counties.— /c/zwes F. Rohinson.

Abnormal Ericas. — Mr. Britten draws atten-
tion, in the Journal of Botany, to an anandrous
variety of Ulrica ciiierea, from Wiltshire, which
has year after year brought forth similar blossoms.
Their appearance is very remarkable, and due to
the fact that both corolla and stamens were want-
ing. The specimens are interesting on account of
their apparent permanence.

Hymenophyllum Tuni?ridgexse.~I beg to say
that I know a locality for this fern not far from
Llanberis. It grows, in company with 11. JFilsoni,
in a somewhat dangerous "place, but was procured
for me by a native about eighteen months ago. —
R. M. Middle ion.

Belfast Naturalists' Pield Club.— The eightli
annual report of this flourishing club has just been
issued. Among other interesting material there
are given several localities for some of the more in-

teresting plants of the district ; among others, —
Carex strigosa, C. districha, Arenaria trinervis,
Tortida recurviflora, Orthotrichum leiocarpum, and
many others, some of which have not been before
recorded.

The Elora of Berkshire. — Mr. James Britten,
of th3 British Museum, has just published what he
modestly terms "Contributions" to the flora of the
above county, but which is a most valuable sum-
mary of the botanical knowledge of that part of
Eaglaud. It takes the form of a list, showing how
much is known, and how much more remains to be
known, of the distribution of the species found
within its limits. Altogether the enumeration of
the species may be looked upon as a record of the
pknts known to exist in Berkshire in, or pre-
viously to, 1871. The county has been divided into
five districts, for the purposes of floral distribution.
The authorities quoted, from old GerarJe down-
wards, are very numerous, and Mr. Britten may be
congratulated for having successfully accomplished
a very difficult and onerous task. The list contains
no fewer than SM species.

Mosses of the London District. — Mr. T.
Howse asks in the January number of Science-
GossiT for habitats of mosses near London. The
following list contains some tliat I found while re-
siding in London five or six years ago. In com-
municating them, I must express the hope that the
rapacity of collectors will not exterminate those that
the inevitable encroachments of bricks and mortar
have hitherto spared. I would reccommend col-
lectors to explore Ilampstead Heath well, espe-
cially a bog in the farther part ; also the banks and
walls bordering the road from Hampstead to High-
gate. A walk from Mill Hill through the lanes
by Sheuley to St. Albans also yielded mc many
species. Another good day's walk was from Barnes
Common (where many rare plants are to be found)
up the lane leading to Iloehampton ; thence across
Wimbledon Common to Combe Wood : Sphagnum
acutifoliim, Ilampstead Heath ; ^S". ojmhifolium,
Wimbledon ; S. squarrosum, Walthamstow ; Phas-
cum subulatum, Stanmore Heath; Weissia contro-
versa, banks of road from Hampstead to Highgate ;
IF. cirrhata, on old paling in lane from Barnes Com-
mon to Iloehampton ; Dicranum scoparium, Hamp-
stead ; I). hetcromallHm, Clapham Common ; Pottia
truncata. Old Oak Common ; Didymodon rubellus,
Highgate; Tortula muralis, Kilburn; T. subidiita,
Elstree; Atrichum undulatum, Combe Wood, Shen-
ley ; Pogonutum naniim, Hampstead Heath ; Poly'
trichum commune, Barnes and AVimbledon Commons ;
P. juniperinnm, Barnes Common; Aulacomniuni
palustre, Hampstead and Roeliampton ; A. androgy-
«//»/, Barnes and St. Albans; Bryum nutans, Wimble-
don Common ; B. capillare, Mitcham ; B. argentenm,
Kilburn ; Milium hormim,, Highgate ; Funaria hygro-

HAKDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

G5

metrica, Paddingtou goods - station ; Fissidens
bryoides, Hampstead, near Pincliley Road ; ¥. taxi-
folius,Co[ney Street ; Hi/pmm confertum, St. Albans ;
H. ndahuhm, Kensal Green and Higligate; U,
prcelovgim, Hampstead ; U. striatum, H. tamarisci-
mm, H. splendens, Sbenley ; E. . cuspidafum, Roe-
bampton; H.fluitans, KensalGreen and Hampstead;
H. compressiforme, St. Albans ; //. denticulatum,
Highgate ; Scapania imdidata, Hampstead ; Junger-
mannia inflata, "Wimbledon ; Lophocolea bidentata,
Sbenley. — //. Franklin Parsons, M.J).

ZOOLOGY.

The Crystal Palace Aquarium.— A capital
guide-book to tlic Crystal Palace Aquarium has
just appeared, written by Mr. W. A. Lloyd, the
superintendent of the aquarium. The great in-
terest in natural history which this beautifully-
fitted-up aquarium has already elicited will be in-
telligently ministered to by this little handbook.
It contains a brief history of aquarium-building,
and a detailed explanation of the principles upon
which that at the Crystal Palace is constructed.
Then follows the natural history of the various
animals living in the several tanks, with such
original notes of their habits, &c., as have been
studied since they were placed in their new house.

The Great Auk.— Dr. Hayes, in his work on
Arctic travel, just published, records a visit to
Greenland, and, speaking of Mr. Hansen, a natu-
ralist there, says :—" To the study of the birds of
the region and their habits he has devoted much
attention. The Great Auk, long since supposed to
be extinct, he told us had recently been seen on one
of the Whale-fish islands. Two years before one
liad actually been captured by a native, who, being
hungry, and wholly ignorant of the great value of
the prize he had secured, proceeded at once to eat
it, much to the disgust of Mr. Hansen, who did
not learn of it until too late to ccme to the rescue.
Mr. Hansen was at this time Governor of Godhavn,
Disco Island, and had previously been Governor of
Proven and Upernavik."

Musical Mice. — As this subject has been dis-
cussed in our columns lately, it will not be out of
place to draw attention to an article in the American
Natt(ralist, in which Dr. Lockwood gives a descrip-
tion of a singing vesper-mouse {Hesperomys). The
mouse in question was brought from Florida, and,
at first, the twitterings were ascribed to swallows.
One day the mouse came on the hearth, sat up, and
sung for a minute or so, and then retired. Eventually
it fell into Dr. Lockweod's hands, so that he could
minutely study its habits. It was at night that its
song usually began, and so distinct were its notes
that Dr. Lockwood had them written down, and
they are given in the article to which we are now

referring. The notation in some parts much re-
sembles that of the nightingale, only that it is in a
different key. The scope of the notes was remark-
able, falling an octave with all the precision possible.
The mouse would burst into song, like a bird, all on
a sudden. One song, named and written down by
Dr. Lockwood as the " Grand Role," was singular
for its strange diversity of changes. So soft and
silvery were the notes, that the author remarks that
if they had been uttered by a canary the bird would
have been worth a hundred dollars ! This singing
would sometimes last as long as nine minutes. The
doctor is utterly opposed to the idea that this singing
was due to bronchial disease, and gives undoubted
reasons for his belief ; amongst others, that most of
the notes uttered were those it would have been
most impossible to have sounded under any form
of bronchial alfectiou.

PiKE-EisiiiNG IX Norfolk. — Norfolk is the
Paradise of the Pike. We may read in the news-
papers of his growing to an enormous size in some
solitary fishpond, where, for aught we know, he may
have reigned supreme since the days when the pre-
Elizabethan monks placed him there as a young
pikerel. But nowhere does the average size of
pike equal their condition in the Norfolk rivers
and broads. There you find them in all ages and
sizes— from the three-inch jack just trying his
"prentis ban' " on equally juvenile roach and dace,
to the still growing, elderly individuals over three
feet long. Their number is legion; and Norfolk
pike-fishing, in my estimation, beats both trout- and
salmon fishing for right-down good sport. If you
are inclined to be sentimental, and to subscribe to
Mr. Preeman's views about hunting, you have the
satisfaction of knowing, when pike-fishing, that you
have not lured poor herbivorous creatures to their
destruction, but simply caught the carnivorous can-
nibal that intended to do unto others what you intend
to do to him !— /. F. Taylor, in " Belgravia."

The Butterflies of the Channel Isles. — As
these islands are a very favourite resort of tourists
and naturalists during the summer months, it may
not be uninteresting to the readers of Science-
Gossip to hear what my experience has been, and I
am the more induced to send these notes for insertion
in your excellent Magazine because it was not until
the end of a long stay in Jersey that I caught any-
thing worth mentioning. In this island it is only
the south-cast district which contains rare Lepi-
doptera. Between the hills and the sea I found
C. edusa in profusion ; C. hyale came flitting by
now and then, and the rare P. daplidice was not
uncommon at midday. In the luceru-fields I found
A. lathonia; but this latter insect was very hard to
catch. The specimens of C. edusa which I caught
showed a decided richness and depth of colour which
the English specimens do not possess. In fact, on

C6

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE - GO S S IF.

comparing them with their Indian brethren, there
was scarcely any difference distinguishable ; and this
is somewhat remarkable, considering that the ditfer-
ence between the summer heat of Jersey and England
is very slight. In C. hyale and P. daplldice I did
not perceive any difference, but A. latlwnia was,
like edusa, much darker, and the silver markings
underneath were brighter. Throughout the island
painted ladies (F. curdui) took the place of whites,
and exhibited much variety of colouring, from brown
to rose-colour. If I had netted all the whites I saw,
I should, no doubt, have taken more specimens of
dciplidice, for it is impossible to distinguish between
the species while on the wing. This is, no doubt, a
wise provision of Providence, to prevent their com-
plete extermination. I have read with pleasure the
paragraphs which have lately appeared iu Scienc£-
GossiP, showing that butterflies settle on objects
of a similar colour to themselves, and I can quite
endorse the opinions of my friend Mr. E. C. Lefroy
ou this point. In Guernsey, for instance, the oak-
eggars, which are very common, invariably fly down
the shady lanes, and settle on the trunks of trees and
other dark surfaces. It is very evident that butter-
flies have no eye for a pretty landscape, or, otherwise,
we should have more of them in Guernsey, which,
small as it is, presents a greater variety of picturesque
scenery than the larger island. At any rate, I have
nothing uncommon to put down in my list, as, during
the whole of my stay, 1 saw nothing worth catching,
if I except a few solitary specimens of .S". semele which
I occasionally met with. This butterfly may have
been more common iu some parts, for it is very local
in its habits, and oCten confines itself to a single
field, where it may be found in swarms. It is also
very partial to hill-sides. I took a good many speci-
mens of the Oak-eggar and Jersey Tiger, and one
Brimstone butterfly {G. rhamiii), the only one I saw
in the islands. Several species of diurnal moths
were common in Guernsey and in Sark, which is
about six miles distant. S. semele was iu great
profusion. As we had sailed out for a picnic, and
I did not expect to find any insects ou so small an
island, I did not take my net, but I managed to
knock down and capture five or six graylings with
my hat. I found them to be exceptionably large
?,nd fine. I was told that the green Hair-streak
{T. riibi) was very common in the Jersey clover-
fields ; but though I was there during the greater
part of August, I did not observe a single specimen.
El-it illaries (except lathonia) and skippers were as
scarce as hair-streaks ; but I caught Alexis, Argiolus,
(Egon, and Agestis ; also the commoner Vanessas
and browns,— F; H. Booth, Blackheath, S.R

BiKDS IN Winter.— It may not be unacceptable
to some among the readers of Science-Gossip to
hear how we are able to watch some of the habits
of a few species of birds close by our drawing-

room window. Eor this purpose there is erected
about three yards from the window a tripod, ori-
ginally used as support for an archery target, and
to the top of this an earthenware pan is suspended
by three strings ; this is kept full of hemp-seed, and
there is a- continual flow of birds t o it. The most
frequent are the tits, of whom we constantly see
four species; viz. the Great, Blue, Cole, and xMarsh
tits. When no one is watching ihem, the sparrows
will come iu great numbers ; but thsy will not be
watched nearly so freely as the tits allow them-
selves to be. Occasionally the most amusing scenes
take place before our eyes ; sometimes a blue tit' will
deliberately attack a great tit, and sometimes drive
him away. If the great tit resists at all, he is usually
" one too many " for his diminutive cousin, but usu-
ally they are a little afraid of one another, as there
are seldom more than one, or at most two, birds in
the pan at once, though there are often others on the
edge, or on tiie three legs of the tripod. I have now
spoken mostly of the tits, but we have other visitors
which, though not so common, are perhaps quite as
pretty. These I have not space to describe. I must,
however, narrate an exciting event which took place
last August. A greenfinch had taken possession of
the hemp seeds, and entirely forbade any other birds
to come near, except our friends the tits. If a
sparrow settled on the edge of the pan, he flew at
him at once and drove him away. Occasionally
four or five sparrows would come one after another ;
and on such occasions his time was entirely occu-
pied with these ; and so his dinner had to wait till
they were all gone. But his conduct towards the tits
was very different ; he seemed to appreciate their
strength and pluck, and never attempted to inter-
fere with them. This respectful conduct, however,
entirely vanished when some other bird arrived.
We have lately had another friend come for food in
the shape of a nuthatch, or, rather, a pair of nut-
hatches, which originally came for nuts, put out for
a squirrel's benefit; but we managed to tempt them
nearer and nearer to the house till they were tame
enough to be closely looked at through the window.
At one time I counted fourteen visits from these
two in the space of half an hour, and each time a
nut was carried away. I am told their visits were
continued after I was obliged to leave my position^
These nuthatches do not often visit the tripod ; but
at a house I know near CroniL-r, where the birds are
fed in the same way, they frequently associate with
the tits and eat the hemp-seed. At these times,
when prevented from going straight to tlie pan by
a tit or other bird, they will run up aud down the
supports, always running head downwards when
descending, and never content to fly down from the
lop to the pan; they always fly away with the seed,
and do not crack it on the legs of the tripod
or the strings supporting the pan, as the blue tits
always do. —A. F. Biixlon-

HAllDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

or

GEOLOGY.

EossiL HvDrvOzoA. — The liydrozoa are the rarest
group of orgauisiiis which have yet been met with,
as, with the exception of the doubtful Oldhamia,
the well-kuown characteristic fossil of the Cambrian
rocks, only the impression of a Medusa has been
discovered in the Solcnhofcu stone. To these Mr.
James Thomson, E.G.S., of Glasgow, has added a
nevr genus and two new species, from the car-
boniferous shales of the West of Scotland. The
generic name of Palccocoryiie has been given to the
former, and Scoticum and radiatmi to the latter. The
nearest related group is the anomalous Bimeria.

Carbonipekotjs Reptiles. — Professor Cope
has recently given a detailed account of the car-
boniferous reptiles of Ohio, U. S. They are re-
ferable to ten genera, and include twenty-seven
species. These reptiles are of tlie most interesting
character, on account of their forming so many
"missing links." Most of them are batrachians,
but one {Jilolgophis) resembles the serpents, with
certain peculiarities of structure.

The Latest Changes in the Nouthern
HEMispnErxE. — It was after the emergence of
Europe from the glacial sea that floral migrations
began more particularly to spread over her. The
climate was still rigorous in its character, the
snow-line coming down in the wiuter probably to
near the sea-level, as it now does in Greenlaud.
Over the available area, arctic plants spread them-
selves, finding luxuriant habitats in the newly-
formed subsoils of the "Drift." The hairy mam-
moth, woolly-haired rhinoceros, the Irish elk, musk
ox, reiudeer, glutton, lemming, &c., more or less
accompanied this flora, and their remains are
always found in the great glacial deposits of Europe
as low dow^n as the South of France. In the
New World, beds of the same age contain similar-
remains, indicating that they came from a commo7i
northern centre, and were spread over both con-
tinents alike. WHien the animals and plants of the
Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of the Old and New
worlds are compared, one cannot but be surprised
at their identity. All, or nearly all, belong to the
same genera, whilst many of the species even are
common to the two great continents. This is most
important in its bearing on our theory, as indi-
cating that they radiated from a common centre
after the Glacial period. W^hen we explore the
temperate regions of the same countries, we find
the floral and faunal difterences increasing, as one
would expect iu remembering that many of the
species date from the Jliocene epoch. In equatorial
latitudes this contrast reaches i(s climax. No
other theory will explain this peculiarity than that
Arctic and sub-Arctic species have spread since the
(tlacial epoch, whereas the southern and equatorial

forms are older geographically, and were driven to
their present areas of occupation by the slowly but
surely advancing cold of the period in question. —
/. 2?. Taylor, on tlie " Geographical Distribution of
Animals and Plants," in " Westminster Review."

Elint Elakes. — I had no opportunity of
reading Mr. Whitley's letter on Elint Flakes in
your number for August last till the close of
the year. I can fully confirm Mr. Whitley's
statements respecting the flint flakes from his
" crusher," of which I have several, not to be dis-
tiugui.shed in form from what are considered to be
typical prehistoric specimens; but these crushed
flakes are wanting ia one particular, viz., the
patina, or white crust, the effect of long exposure
to atmospheric influence ; and it is by these quali-
ties of form and colour that " we learn to distin-
guish between false and true weapons." I feel
pretty sure I am not wrong in ascribing great
importance to the "patina" as a test of the au-
thenticity of flint flakes, for in and around Paris
they are, almost without an exception, found only
on a level with the river in all the gravel-pits with
which Paris abounds. There, and there only, are
they met with ; and this is so universally the case,
that although I have searched almost every gravel -pit
that was open last year round Pai'is and St. Germains,
I only met with one flake at a higher level, and
M. de Mortillet pointed to a rust-stain on its
surface in proof that it had come from the surface
gravel, and had been struck by the spade or
some iron tool. Now this level is exactly that
where the bones of extinct animals are found,
and corresponds with the levels at Amiens and
Abbeville, at which flint flakes have been found
mingled with the bones of the same animals,
and even with those of man ; yet neither Amiens
nor Abbeville is on the Seine. In the South of
France also human bones, as well as flint flakes,
have been met wi-Ii at the same levels in river
gravel. Neolithic or worked flints have almost
as invariably been found at a higher level ; and
the patina, when it exists is not so thick as on
the flakes. M. de Mortillet assures me that flint
flakes taken from peat bogs, bottoms of rivers, and
other places to ^ hich air has no access, have no
patina. The downs here are covered with millions
of flints, both whole and broken, yet in ten minutes
I found more characteristically- shaped flakes from
Mr. Whitley's crusher than I could find in ten
hours upon the downs. And why ? Because nature
splits them by frost and heat, which do not give
them regular edges and facets, while the crusher
acts as primeval man did, and splits them by force
applied ab extra, the effect of which is the same,
whether it be a crushing power or a blow from
another flint, man's sole weapon at that period. —
T. Ogin Ward, M.I)., Oxon.

08

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

NOTES AND aUERIES.

Glowwoems. — In my rambles last summer I fre-
quently came upou those beautiful objects, glow-
worms. I have caugJit them and put them on the
grass near the house, but very seldom saw anything
of them after a night or two. I had a fancy to try
and keep some through the winter, so I procured a
white pot, bored a hole in the bottom for ventilation,
and a glass shade with a small hole in the top, such
as night lights are burnt under. After partly filling
the pot with earth and moss, I cemented the glass
to the pot with plaster of Paris, then got a small
brass ring, a little larger than the hole at the top,
and had some musliu tacked over it to form the
cap, to prevent them getting out, then my cage
was complete. I enclose a rough sketch, as I find
it very useful to keep eggs in, &c. I next sup-
plied the case with worms as food, but they did

Fig. 48. Glowworm Cage.

not seem very fond of them as diet, as I frequently
saw worms lying on the nioss close to my
friends witliout molestation, and most of them
are now alive, and come to the surface occasionally.
After I have watered the earth, which 1 do to purify
them, they will eat a dead worm if hungry. Slugs
seem their favourite food. Directly one is put into
the case they all seem alert, and as it passes, first
one and then another gives it a gentle reminder; and
to judge from its actions, I should fancy it has a
great objection to tiie bite, which generally kills it
in an hour or so. In consequence of the dry season,
I was unable to obtain any subject until the latter
part of August, and am afraid I had not many eggs.
I only saw about half a dozen on the moss. I kept
the case indoors, and the last time I saw them glow
was on December 1st. After sprinkling them with
water until the 4th of Pebruary, when they seemed
rather unlicalthy, I put them out of doors, the night
being warm and rather damp, and I saw one glowing.
I have a great wish to catcii a male, and should feel
obliged if any friend can inform me how I can
manage it, and also Mhere I can obtain inTormation
about them, as none of our libraries in tliis neigh-
bourhood seem to have it, and in return I will try to
procure specimens for any reader who may wish to
try to keep them in ferneries or elsewhere.— 1'. Buclc,
Chelmsford .

The Unicorn. — In answer to "Query" in the
Pebruary number of Science-Gossi?, I beg to
state that from Astle's " Seals of the Kings, &c.,
of Scotland," in which the signet of Margaret,
queen of James 111., figured at page 4, is engraved.

we learn that the unicorn was one of the royal
badges of King James III., who struck gold
coins called " unicorns " and "half-unicorns." In
Boutell's " English Heraldry " we read (page 274)
that two silver unicorns, "royally gorged and
chained or" were assumed as supporters by
James IV., and retained in use. At the union of the
two kingdoms under Jamds I. and VI., the lion of
England and the unicorn of Scotland were adopted,
and with tlie exception of Protector Cromwell,
who used the lion of England and the red dragon
of Wales on his broad seal and privy seal, they
have so continued to the present day. So much
for the history of the use of this elegant though
apocryphal beast. Whether Margaret adopted it as
her husband's badge, or James used it in compli-
ment to his wife, may be left an open question ;
but I think that the ornamental addition of the
crown and chain may be considered to represent
the fierce and dangerous animal after his subju-
gation by the force of female purity and loveliness.
—T. G. Bayfield.

Alauda akbokea. — I do not wish to be too
critical, but may I ask your pleasant correspondent
"Mr. Joseph Drew, of Nansladron." which, of two
vei7 difi^erent — and by me lona: confounded — birds
he means by the " Tree Pipit" ? The Tree Pipit's
book-name is Anthis arhoreus, and it is, it seems,
the Alauda trivialis of Pennant and Montagu,
The true Tree Lark, becoming, alas! scarce in
Hampshire, is Alauda arborea, of a difterent sub-
genus, being a true lark. If killed— which heaven
forbid any man should do by them, the two birds
maybe distinguished thus roughly:— The Tree
Pipit has the longer bill and short hind claw of
the AidJius, and a spotted stomach ; the Tree Lark
has the shorter bill and long hind claw of the
Alauda, and a stomach without spots. It is also
a thicker and less grey-colouied bird. The habits
of the two, when singing on the wing, are so alike
as to have puzzled me often. The distinction which
I should make is, that the Tree Pipit, in hovering,
spreads its tail like a fan, and curves its wings
downward, which I have not seen the Tree Lark
do. The Tree Lark certainly sings at night, as
described l)y Mr. Drew, and its song is one of the
most exquisite and flute-like I know, far surpass-
ing that of the Tree Pipit. But when Mr. Drew
speaks of being unable to distinguish his bird (after
singing ceases) from the titlarks, I am doubtful
which of the two birds he means. — C. Kingsley.

Abnormal Tulip Stamens. — The transition
betwixt petals and stamens, or stamens and petals,
in the white Water-lily (Nympfuea alba) is well
known to botanists. In this case it is only a normal
state of the flower ; but in the following case of the
single Due Van Tholl tulip the transition going on
was abnormal. Upon looking over a bed of garden
tulips last June, I observed several flowers witii the
stamens in an abnormal state ; some of the stamens
were similar to those observed in the Water-Iily,_
with the anthers elevated, apparently on one of
the petals, or, to make it more plain, the filament
was changed to a petal. In the other case the
anther, instead of being placed at the summit of
the transformed filament, was growing out of its
side. In both cases the transformed filament was
coloured the same as the normal petals. The above
is only one of the many illustrations of the rule
long ago advocated by Lindley, that all the parts of
the floral whorl are transformed leaves. — James F.
liobinsoii.

HARDVVICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

G9

The GirsY-MOTii {Liparis dispar), p. 23. —
Having Lad considerable experience in the rearing
of tiiis interesting species, I beg to offer a few re-
marks on that insect to your correspondent, Mr.
John Henderson. ;My experience with regard to
size coincides with that of Mr. Henderson, and 1
have never reared a specimen approaching that
figured in Mr. Newman's work. _ 1 find they vary
considerably in size, more especially the mules : I
have one or two in my collection not larger than a
fair-sized specimen of R. crat/rpata. On turning
back to a previous volume of Science-Gossip, I
find a note by Mr. Clifford on the above species : he
writes, "As 'far as 1 know, all those reared by us
produce what is called the northern, or dwarf
type, which has been bred ' in and in ' for some
years past by collectors : nor could the diminutive
form be brought up to' the full size again by any
mode of treatment." I know of no entomologist
who has obtained larger specimens than myself or
Mr. Hederson. Eurther on jNIr. Clifford writes :
"On one occasion I liberated, by way of experi-
ment, a largish number of these caterpillars near
London, placing them on sallow, which seems most
congenial to their taste ; however, subsequently, I
was unable discover either cocoons or moths." Any
information with regard to the above subject in
these pages would be very acceptable to me as well
as to Mr.Henderson. — R. Laddiman.

Cleaning Sand Eoraminifera. — I have ob-
tained some sea-sand which contains Foraminifera,
and have tried several plans for washing out this
lime which they contained, but have not yet suc-
ceeded. I have tried the following plans; — 1.
Washing them with a drop of muriatic acid in a
watch-glass half filled with distilled water; buti
found that evaporated them altogether ; so 1 put in
more water, and then it had no effect at all. 2. I
liave fully adopted that plan described in Science-
Gossip for September, 18/0, by Mr. " J. H." by
boiling them a quarter of an hour in liquor potassse,
and afterwards a quarter of an hour in water ; but
when I mount in Canada balsam, I find perhaps one
half of a shell clean, and the rest all full of dirt. I
have also tried them by boiling in soda and water,
but cannot succeed. If any_ reader will kindly
inform me where my error is, and of any other
plan, I shall feel obliged.— Z. H.

The " Liver." — In last month's number of
Science-Gossip there are two notices from cor-
respondents, about Liverpool, and the origin of its
name. We all know that there never was such a
bird as the " Liver," but very few seem to have any
idea as to what the name really means, or whence
it is derived. It appears to me that we must seek
it in the old language of the country. We know
that in ancient times the " old British " was spoken
in the district, which in these days is represented
by the Gaelic and the Welsh. _ Now we find in the
Gaelic a M'ord which is sometimes spelled "Leth-
thir," or "Lcthir," or "Leithtir," which means the
" side of a country," or " near to the sea ; " and in
the Welsh " pwl " means a " pool." Putting the
two words together we have "Leththirpwl," or
"Lethirpwl," or "Liverpool," a "pool near the
sea." The above explanation of the meaning and
origin of the name is to some extent confirmed by
the ifact that the old inhabitants of the country in
the neighbourhood call the place " Litherpul," or
" Lirpul," to this day. We have the name, or
rather the first part of it, yet spelled near to the

original in the name of a district to the north of
the town, which is called " LitheAwciA ; " and the
names of several places in the neighbourhood are
doubtless derived from the same source; as, " Orms-
kirk," "Runcorn," "Wallasea," " Orrell," &c. ;
as also the names of the two rivers, the " Mersey "
and the " Dee."— /o//« Joynson.

White Ants.— In reply to P. "W. Rogers,
respecting ants, he will find the following remedy
effectual : — Burn some sulphur in a saucer over-
night, and place it in their haunts, repeating it for
three successive nights ; then whitewash the cup-
boards all over, mixing a teaspoonful of creosote
to every pint of whitewash. — W. H. 6., Somerto)i,
Taunton.

The Vitrina pellucida. — Having taken a
large number of these interesting mollusks this
season, lam in a position to afiirm _ that they can
completely withdraw themselves within their shells,
if by the term "within" we understand that no
part of the animal would be cut off supposing a
flat surface were drawn across the mouth, similar
to the epiphragm of other hybernating andajstivat-
ing snails. They are neither very shy nor irritable,
and therefore do not retreat on the slightest touch,
like some others ; but that they can withdraw them-
selves, I am completely satisfied. The immature
animals certainly cannot entirely ensconce them-
selves, the hinder part of the foot being always
"left out in the cold," and also a part of the mantle
in front, which is turned back over the shell. There
is, however, a vast deal of difference between the
contractile power of this species and that of other
univalves. I have never been able to see any inside
margin of the shell in an adult living specimen,
nor iiave I ever taken one with an epiphragm, which
induces me to think they do not hybernate as the
Helices and others. But I have found them firmly
adhering to pieces of decaying wood in a damp
place under wet leaves : this seems, however, to be
only a kind of torpor after a heavy glut, for the
Vitrine is a great gourmet, esiiecially when it can
command a poor earthworm for its repast. I am
decidedly of opinion that they area very short-
lived race, that their lives seldom indeed exceed
nine or ten months ; for during the latter part of
1871 I was able to find any number of large or full-
sized specimens ; now, in the same places, 1 can only
find empty and tenantless shells, and a large number
of small or immature animals ; and if this be the
correct view, there can be no need of hybernation
in their case. J. G. Jeffreys, in his "British Con-
chology," offers no suggestion with regard to the
aestivation of the inhabitants of these pretty shells ;
and, generally speaking, the habits of these animals
have not been very closely watched by any British
conchologist, most of them contenting themselves
with merely copying or echoing the views of M.
Moquin-Tandon. Woidd it not be an interesting
occupation for two ar three persons in different
parts of the country to take them especially under
attention, with a view to comparing notes at the
end of the year, and publishing the result of their
observations in Science-Gossip, on the conclusion
of their labours ? Should the idea be thought worth
entertaining, I would like to join one or two persons
who would "be willing to assist in the undertaking.
Autumn seems to be the best time for taking full-
sized specimens for collections, but the present
season is a good one for taking them in order to
watch their habits in confinement, since all are
now young animals ; and I presume that very

70

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

little preparation would he needed to preserve tliem,
as the Yitrine is not a great traveller, generally
remaining in the same leaf-beci the mnjor pHrt of his
natural \\i&.—Hngh Perkins, Sibford, near Banbury.

Poisoning Dried Plants.— As requested by
your correspondent in the last number of Science
Gossip, I beg to submit my experience with
regard to the above subject. I have never used
any poisoning process at all, and though I have
had some of the most delicate plants in my posses-
sion for five years, I have never been troubled with
mould or insects. ' I think tliat any persons who are
auuoyed with either (especially mould) have them-
selves to blame, as they dry their specimens in too
great a hurry. If the plants are carefully dried, it is
reasonable to suppose that they wnll keep for years
without the addition of any chemical substance. —
E. McE. II., Glasgow.

The Tufted Duck.— On or about the 2Sth of
January a specimen of the Tufted Duck {Anas
fuligula of Pennant), otherwise known as the Black
Widgeon, was shot on "Wetmoor, near the town of
Laugport, in Somersetsliire. It was a male bird, of
the usual dark olive-colour, with this peculiarity,
that the greater wing-coverts had much less white
about them than ordinary,— merely a narrow v/liite
streak in fact, and the lower part of the breast was
buff instead of white. Is it not rather unusual to
meet with this bird so far west ? The variation of
colour soems, I think, something uncommon.

The country has been covered with deep water
for many miles in this neighbourhood, more so than
usual, and wild birds of various kinds have been
very numerous. — P. P.

Wasps. — It perhaps is not generally known that
these insects will hawk at and carry off flies.
Sitting one day in my ofBce, I observed a wasp
giving chase to a house fly. It captured its quarry
on the wing, made a circuit of the room, and then
flew to the window, and devoured the fly in less than
a minute. Another instance has come under my
notice. Walking along a country road during the
autumn, my attention was attracted by a buzzing
sound, and looking down, I was aware of quite a little
cloud of dust raised by a fierce struggle between a
wasp and a large fly, commonly known as the " Blue^
bottle." Several times the fly shook itself clear of its
adversary, but it was too much injured to rise; the
wasp very quickly returned to the attack, running
swiftly over the ground. I was on the point of
taking the poor fly's part by killing them both, but
the wasp was too quick ior me, and rose on the
wing, bearing the fly with it. 1 however succeeded
in knocking thein both to the ground by a smart
blow with my hat ; but although struck down, the
wasp kept its voracious hold, rose again, and bore
off its prey. I think this an extraordinary example
both of the strength and voracity of these insects.
— G. J. L. Lamar q^te, Dover.

Geological Guide to Sicily.— Could yon tell
me if there is any Geological Guide-book to Etna,
or Sicily generally ? 1 intend to be a month or two
during this summer in Sicily and southern Italy,
and should like to observe the more important
geological phenomena. There must be a good many
books on the subject surely, if one knew where to
find them. 1 have Phillip's "Vesuvius." If I could
get something similar for Etna, that would be the
very thing. I don't mind whether it is in English
or French ; German would be better than nothing.—
A Subscriber.

Justices' Science. — A recent number of Nature
states that at Chelmsford the magistrates declined
to grant the use of the Shirehall for a lecture on
the sun, illustrated by experimen's in spectrum
analysis, on the ground that the electric light
might endanger the safety of the building !

Do Animals ever commit Suicide?— Tnthe
recently published volume of additional selections
from the miscellaneous writings of De Quincey, one
paper, rather brief, takes up the question of suicide,
and asserts, incidentallj', that animals do not, and
cannot, be guilty of it. He adduces two cases, on
which much stress was laid ; one that of a ram, the
other of a horse, both of which were supposed to
have thrown themselves down a declivity. The
occurrences, he believes, were matters of accident ;
yet, on the other hand, I cannot but tliink that if
animals become mad, as is granted, such a perver-
sion of natural instincts may ensue that self-preser-
vation ceases to hold any sway. And again, the fact
that the scorpion, when surrounded by perils, will
deliberately sting itself to death, has been reported
i by a number of independent witnesses.—/. R. S. C.

Paste Eels. — I think I am safe in promising
disappointment to all who attempt to obtain paste
' eels in the way suggested by " F. K." in last month's
Science- Gossip. I have known many persons try
! his plan, and the result, in every cise, was total
failure (unless the receptacle previously held some) ;
j and necessarily so : success would be a demonstra-
■ lion of spontaneous generation ; and our philosophy
; has not jet reached that point ; and, besides this,
' there is the fact that these creatures produce
i young, which would be superfluous if paste alone
• generated them. They are a lively set of interest-
ing beings to every one who possesses a microscope
and patiencp, and easily bred, if a few specimens are
placed on the surface of the paste, which I prefer
! rather thin. " F. K." refers to tlie young, coiled up in
the body of the parent ; and if reference is made to
Science-Gossip of December, their surprising mode
\ of exit thence will be learned. — In a preceding
' paragraph "F. K." mentions soundings.from Porto
I Seguro; will he favour me with one of his slides
: in exchange for one prepared from the same
1 material in a different way "^—A. Nicholson, Fare-
I ham.

CoRMOHANTs AT HoME. — " T. J. B." in his notice
i of habits of coi'morants has omitted one very
1 curious practice they pursue. After diving for fish,
! their wings appear to become too wet to allow of
I their flying, and it is a very amusing sight to see
them standing on rocks with their wings spread
out, evidently to dry. This I have witnessed on
the nortli coast of Ireland near the Giant's Cause-
way, where they are common. — A. JF. M.

Late Tadpoles. — In the'pools of a'deep quarry
a few miles from here, frequented by Natterjacks
{Bufo calamiia), I saw, so late as November Sth,
a dozen or more tadpoles in a half-torpid stute,
some with, and some without legs. Is this not a
somewhat uncommon occurrencs? — W. H. JFarner,
Kingston, Abingdon.

Alauda arrokea (p. 44).— What bird does Mr.
Drew refer to by the name of Tree Pipit (Alauda^
arborea) ? Alauda arborea is the sjcieutific name of
the Woodlark ; Anthiis arboreus that of the Tree
Pipit. 1 suppose he means the latter bird, but has
made a mistake in the scientific name. — W. H.
Warner, Kingston, Abingdon.

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

71

Dried Elotveks.— I would give " W. W. H." the
information asked for with great pleasure, if I knew
the process whereby tlie exquisite little card of
flowers wliicli I alluded to had been made to retain
their brilliant tints ; but very probably the corre-
spondent, or at any rate reader, of Science-Gossip
■who so kindlv sent me the specimen card will
see " W. W. H.'s " note, and reply to it— Hele/i
E. fl'ahiei/.

TiiE SwoKD-Fistr. — In the Leisure Hour for Jan-
uary is an article on the Sword-fish {XipJiiasgladim).
The dsscription appears to apply more properly to
the Saw-fisli {Prist is antiquorum). Will any corre-
spondent of SciENCE-Gossir say whether the fish
described is a new species, or whether the writer of
the article has fallen into an error in describing the
Saw-iish as the Sword-fish? The former, it is well
known, is furnished with a formidable weapon, which
is a prolongation of the upper jaw, and which is
armed on each side with sharp teeth, extending in a
line from base to point. Although the fisii has un-
doubtedly the power of inflicting terrible wounds
■with the saw, it must be evident to any one that it
would be almost impossible for such an instrument to
pierce the thick timbers of a ship, more particularly
as the point of the saw is blunt and slightly turned
up; added1othis,theprojectingteeti, placed at right
angles to the body of the saw, would effectually
prevent its entrance into any hard body. The Sword-
fish (Xiphias fjladhis) is armed with a very different
weapon, — a long, hard, solid horn, a sword often
attaining to the length of several feet : with this
sword, which is destitute of tcetli. the Xiphias has
been known to penetrate the planks and beams of
ships, and, being unable to withdraw it, the weapon
has been snapped off and has remained in the
timber; or it is probable that the force of the blow
has broken off the bone. If my memory serves me,
a specimeu, fixed in a block of wood cut from a
ship's side, is to be seen in the British Museum. —
E. E.R.-

The Ermixe in Nortii Wales.— A specimen
of the Mustela erminea has just been brought in to
me by my friend and neigliboiir Mr. Jo!m Jones,
of Cae Uorrin, one of our mountain farms. It is
supposed to be rare, as none of the gamekeepers
have ever seen the animal before in these parts.
The Stoat, Weasel, &c., are common enough, but
this beautiful creature is, so far as we can ascertain,
quite a rarity hereabouts. — W. P.

EooD OF Hemipteea a-nd of Snakes. — A couple
of very young Englisli snakes, about six or seven
inches long, have been in my possession for some
weeks. As they had not been observed to take any
food, though insects and worms had been inclcssd
with them, and happening to remember some old
tale of a snake being fed by a child on bread and
milk, on the chance of their taking it I placed a
small portion of this simple diet in their vase. On
inspection a short time alter, 1 was surprised to see
a hemipterous insect {Coreiis scapha) busily engaged
with its rostrum deep in the mixture, evidently im-
bibing the liquid portion with considerable relish.
It struck me as a curious circumstance for an insect,
undoubtedly a vegetable-feeder, to take so readily to
this diet, and it seems probible that this large field-
bug would have little reluctance to suck blood if
the opportunity oifered. Perhaps some reader of
Science Gossip will try the experiment, which want
of time and other reasons prevent my doing. I
should be very glad also to be informed of the food

on which such diminutive snakes exist, as they
cannot possibly swallow the s'liall mammals and
reptiles on which their elder brethren sub>ist, and
no book that I have consulted gives the dinner carte
of these interesting juveniles. It should be added
that they have not bsen observed to pay any atten-
tion to the bread and milk. — George Guy on, Ventuor.

Mounting Objects. — Will any of your corre-
spondents who have tried mounting objects in gum
dammar give me their experience ? I dissolved the
gum in benzole. The solution was clear enough at
first, but after a bit it became slightly opalescent.
Is this opalescence a disadvantage, as I supposed it
to be, and how can it be got rid of ? Should the
solution of the gum be saturated ? — W. Z. Nash.

The Shre'w-motise (p. 45).— The word " shrew "
is applied to Sorex araneus in the sense of " evil : " it
means the malign mouse, an animal supposed to

' work evil by means of magic spells, as is the case with
the evil-eye, a superstition still lingering in some
remote parts of the country. Etymologieally, the

' word "shrew" is allied to the German "schnige"
in the sense of awry ; the Anglo-Saxon form is
"screawa," connected with oldEnglish "schreward,"
a rascal ; cf . " schre wd," as malicious, badly disposed ;
i.e., not simple, innocent and confiding, but wickedly

I informed, wily, artful, too knowing. The Danish
word quoted from Bailey appears to be meant for

I "skovmuus," the 2Iyoxus, i.e. the Wood-mouse;

! cf. German " Feldratze." The shrew, in German, is
" die Spitzmaus," in allusion to its pointed snout. —
A.Hall.

The Chameleon. — A friend of mine is anxious
to find out the secret, if there be one, of acclima-
tizing the Cliameleon. He has made one or two
attempts, but to his grief failed in both. My friend's
house is situated in a valley near the castle of Not-
tingham, well sheltered from the cold north and
east winds, altogether one of the prettiest, wannest,
; aud sunniest parts of our good old town. Below
j the house, a little further down the valley, having
; a full southern aspect, stands a greenhouse full of
choice exotic plants, and consequently very warno,
I where he kept a lovely specimen of the GhanKeleo
tribe, which had been presented to him. The charra-
' ing little creature's habits of life were to ray friend
a curious aud interesting study. Slow and cautious
in its movements, yet ever on the qui vive for insect
prey, which it rapidly caught with its tongue. Its
briglit eyes gleamed with eager watchfuluess, no
action or movement seeming to escape its notice :
in fact, it was a most wonderful and novel pet. Its
great power of abstinence from food, and very ex-
traordinary manner of gulping in the air and puffing
out its body to twice its size, formed a most amusing
study. One day, however, death paid a visit to the
poor little chameleon's home. In time another
chameleon took its place, and it also perished. My
friend fancies the climate is too cold, and that it was
the change from their tropical homes which caused
the death of the two chameleons. They had a plen-
tiful supply of insects, and their deatii was not
caused by the old woman's fable, that "the chame-
leon lives on air," and as in a case which came under
my notice some years ago, when a poor animal was
starved to death simply through stupid ignorance.
We are aware that these reptiles are most success-
fully kept in the Zoological Gardens in London, and
I should be glad if any of the correspondents of
Science-Gossip could give my friend a little in-
formation on this point. — Barbara Wallace Fyfe,
Nottingham.

72

HARDVVICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Ati communications relative to advertisements, post-office
orders, and orders for the supply of tliis Journal, should be
addressed to the Pibi.isher. All contributions, books,
and pamphlets for the Editor should be sent to 192,
Piccadilly, London, W. To avoid disappointment, contri-
butions should not be received later than the 15th of each
month. A'o 7ir,tice whatever ran be taken of communica-
tions which do not contain the name and address of the
writer, not necessarily for publication, if desired to be with-
held. We do not undertake to answer any queries not
specially connected with Natural History, in accordance
with our acceptance of that term ; nor can we answer
queries which might be solved by the correspondent by an
appeal to any elementary book on the subject.

A. N.— Gum dammar is used for mounting purposes, in-
stead of Canada balsam. The following is the recipe:—
Dissolve one ounce of gum dammar in one fluid ounce of
turpentine ; dissolve one ounce of mastic in two fluid ounces
of chloroform. Filter both liquids, and then mix.

J. S. T.— The land-shells sent are Clausilia, laminiata.

M. T., Croydon.— The fern sent is Pleris hustata ; but the
fronds are young, so as to render identification somewhat
difficult. It comes from the Cape of Good Hope, and was
introduced into this country in the yeap 1823.

T. A., Leeds.— The mould growing on a Beaufoy vhiegar-
cask in a damp cellar belongs to the order Mucedines. It is
lihinotrichum lano&um.

E. L.— 1. Niicleolifcs dimidiatus ; 2. Spine of Cidaris, from
the Middle Oolite. Not of much value for exchange, unless
they arc in a better state than those sent. They are evidently
Drift specimens. The fossils above mentioned are character-
istic of tlie Middle Oolite.

W. D. Roebuck.— 1. Agriotes obscurus (the larva of which
is one of the "wire-worms"). 2. Coccinella ll-piinctafa
(C. dispar is only a dark form of C. hipunctata, and is black,
with about four red markings ; not red, with eleven black
spots, as in this insect). 3. Notiophilus sal/striatus. i. Cala-
thus melanocephalus. There are no works whereby exclu-
sively British Coleoptera can be named. Stephens's " Manual"
professed to supply this want, but is now quite obsolete and
unreliable. Spry and Shuckard give recngnizablo outline
figures of most of the now acknowledged British genera ; but
the student must rely on the standard European works by
Erichson, Kraatz, Thomson, and others. For information on
this and other points see Rye's " British Beetles," Lovell
Reeve & Co., lOs. 6d.

R. S., Belper.— The scales on the slide sent are those of
some species of Macrotoma, perhaps M.plumbea. The scales
of the forms belonging to this genus show affinities to those
of Lepisma. See Sir John Lubbock's paper on the Thysnnura,
in the "Trans. Linneau Soc," and Mr. Mclntyre's Notes on
the Scale-bearing Podurce, in vol. i. of the Monthly Micro-
scopical Journal. — F. K.

F. W. Harris, Jun.— Doubtless the growth of the mould
■would be caused by damp in the first instance. A very slight
degree of damp is sufficient. The mould may be destroyed by
the application of spirits of wine with a camel's-hair pencil,
and if a'small quantity of bichloride of mercury (corrosive
sublimate) is dissolved in the spirits of wine, it will prevent
the specimens from being again attacked The proportion
should be about six grains of bichloride of mercury to an
ounce of spirit.

Capt. Perrv, Liverpool.— The slide came to hand with
the centre smashed; enough, however, remained for exami-
nation. The forms are neither foraminifera nor diatom-, but
concretions of carbonate of lime, probably identical with
those found in the skhi of the shrimp or prawn. If examined
by means of polarized light, the globules will display the
black cross precisely the same as seen in the shrimp or
prawn -, if the tentacles of the Pht/salia had been examined
soon after its capture, the globules would have been seen in
situ.—F. K.

EXCHANGES.

Notice.— Only one " Exchange'' can be inserted at a time
by the same individual. The maximum length (except for
correspondents not residing in fireat Britain) is three lines.
Only objects of Natural History permitted. Notices must be
legibly written, in full, as intended to be inserted.

Wanted Microscopic leaf fungi (unmounted); objects of
interest in return. Li.sts exchanged.— H. D., 1, Stanley
Road, Waterloo, Liverpool.

Tongue, eye, or spiracle of Drone -fly, professionally pre-
pared and well mounted, offered for transparent section of
coal or granite.— C. D., I87, Oxford Street, Mile End, E.

Hklix kevei.ata for Clausilia Rolphii. — John Purdue
Ridgeway, Plympton, Devon.

No«. 7.5, 157, 158. 160, 679, 6s6, 1149, 116.'), 1272, &c. &c.,
Lond. Cat., for other plants.— G. H., 57, Bell Street, Calton,
Glasgow.

Fervs, including Woodwardia radicans, Hypolepis repens,
PJiym'itodia interquafolia, and others, in exchange for others
new to me.— Address, L. B., Shooter's Hills, near Longton,
Staffordshire.

Wa.vted, well-mounted anatomical injections, transparent
and opaque. State what is wanted in return. — Capt. J. A.
Perry, 42, Speelow Lane, Liverpool.

Exchange.— Prepared; Skin of Sole (unmounted) for Scale
of Carp. — Miss Edith Meyrick, Downshire Lodge, Blessing-
ton, CO. Wicklow, Ireland.

Cretaceous Fossils of Cambridge in exchange for fossils
of other formations.— W. J. S., 9, Victoria Street, Cambridge.

Transparent sections of fossilized lath wood. Send
stamped envelope. Any Microscopic material acceptable. —
Address, Charles Butterworth, 4, Sandy Lane, Shaw, near
Oldham.

Carboniferous Fossils in exchange for Devonian and
Silurian. — S. Barmingham, Arkendale, Reeth, Yorkshire.

For Pollen of Digitalis purpurea send stamped envelope
to T. H. Martin, 86, Week Street, Maidstone.

Ten Microscopic objects (well mounted and clean) for
well-mounted objects showing anatomy, &c., of Coleoptera
and Lepidoptera. For list and particulars address J. W.
Barwell, Messrs. Winstanley's, Hujton, near Liverpool.

Cuticle of Palmyra Leaf (from Ceylon) prepared for
polariscope (unmounted), offered for stamped envelope, and
any object of microscopical niterest [except botanical). — B.
Bellingham, Brierly Hill, Stalfordshire.

Slides of beautiful diatoms from the Yarrow, Melbourne,
Victoria, in exchange for other equally good tlides.— A. N.,
Fareham.

Fossil Diatomace.'e, from Caithness (cleaned), very rich
in species, for good Microscopic objects; also a few Oolitic
fossils, from Sebastopol, for characteristic fossils (mesozoic
preferred). — Wm. C. Crawford, Eagle Foundry, Glasgow.

For section of Sarsaparilla stem, send envelope to Walter
White, Dereham Road, Norwich. Any good material ac-
ceptable.

Wanted Hyalonema mirahilis for Euplectella speciosa. —
Mr. Hambrook. Stroud Street, Dover.

Wanted Phasgnnura viridissima (Great Green Grass-
hopper) and Spojigilla fliiviatilis (Fresh-water Sponge), for
specimens.— Rev. H. H. Higgins, Rainhill, Liverpool.

Wanted live eggs of Silkworm for Microscopic slides. —
J. Barrow, 3, Egerton Terrace, Birch Lane, Longsight, Man-
chester.

Peruvian Guano offered in exchange for good mounted
objects.— G. Bowen, 93, Hampton Street, Birmingham.

C. DUPLARIS, N. C. nif^rum, A. Riifina, O Macilenta, S.
Satellitia, PI. Cerago, H. Silago, A. Aprilina, H. Proteus, A.
pyramidea, M. Oxycunthip, &c., for exchange. — Joseph An-
derson, Jun., Alresford, Hants.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

" Contributions to a Flora of Berkshire." By James
Britten, F.L.S.

"The Eighth Annual Report of the Belfast Naturalists'
Club."

" The Zoologist." February.

" The Canadian Naturalist."

" The Journal of Botany." February.

"Annals of Natural History." February.

"Entomologist's Monthly Magazine." February.

" The American Nalm-alist." January.

" Guide to the Crystal Palace Aquarium."

" Notes on Chalcidise." By F. Walker, F.L.S.

" Deschanel's Natural Philosophy." By Professor Everett.
Blackie & Sons, London, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.

" Worms : a Series of Lectures on Practical Helmintho-
logy." By Dr. Spencer Cobbold, F.R.S., &c. London : J. &
A. Churchill.

Communications Received. —R. B.— F. K.— G. H.
W. D. R.— J. A.-C. H.— H. E.W.— H. F. M.— A. H.-E.
W. L. N.— W. P.— B. W. F.— J. B.— G. B.— R. S— L.
J. J.— A. N.— J. B.-T. H M.— W. J. S.— J. R.-S. C-
— E. McH.— H. P.-W. H.-J. S. T.-J. A. P.-J. T.-
— C. B.— S. B.— C. K.— W. C— W. A. T.— G. J. L.
— R. T. L.-W. H. G.-W. W.— J. H.— H. D.— C. J.
Captain P.-J. O.-C. L.— T. B.— A. E— B. B.-F.
—A. N. F.— T. W. U.— J. N.— G. H.— Dr. H. F.— G. H
G. B. P. (Lynn).

K.—
H. R.

H.—
-P. P.
E. M.

L.—

D.—
J. VV.
. H.—

HARDWICKE'S 5C lENCE-GOSSIP.

73

COLLECTING AND PEESEEVING.

No. III. -BIRDS' EGGS.

By Thomas SouTHiyELL, F.Z.S.

EFORE sayiug a word as to pre-
paring specimens for the cabinet,
I wish to impress upon the young
oologist tlie absolute necessity
for using the greatest care and
diligence in order satisfactorily
to identify, beyond possibility of
doubt, every specimen before he
admits it to his collection. With-
out such precautious, what might
otherwise be a valuable collection is
absolutely worthless ; and it is better
to have a small collcctiou of authentic
specimens than a much larger one, the
history of which is not perfectly satis-
factory ; in fact, it is a good rule to
banish from the cabinet every egg
which is open to the slightest doubt.
There are some eggs which, when
mixed, the most experienced oologist will find it
impossible to separate with certainty, and which
cannot be identified when once they are removed
from the nest.

The difiiculties in the way of authentication are
by no means slight, but space will not allow me to
dwell upon them ; the most ready means, however, is
that of watching the old bird to the nest, although,
even in this, as the collector will find by experience,
there is a certain liability to error. In collecting
abroad it will be found absolutely necessary (how-
ever reluctant we may be to sacrifice life) to pro-
cure one of the parents with the nest and eggs. As
we are writing for beginners at home, we trust such
a measure will rarely be necessary; but that an
accurate knowledge of the appearance of the bird,
its nesting habits, the situation, and the materials
of which the nest is composed, will be found amply
sufiicient to identify the eggs of our familiar birds.
This knowledge of course is only to be obtained by
No. 88.

patient and long observation, but it is just by such
means that the student obtains the practical insight
into the habits and peculiarities of the objects of his
study, together with the careful and exact method
of recording his observations, which eventually
enable him to take his place amongst the more
severely scientific naturalists whom he desires to
emulate.

I will first describe the tools required, and then
proceed to the mode of using them.

Eigs. 49 and 50 are drills used
for making the hole in the side
of the egg from which the con-
tents are discharged by means of
the blowpipe, fig. 51. Eig. 49
has a steel point, brass ferrule,
and ebony handle, and may be
used for eggs up to the size
of the Wood-pigeon's ; fig. 50
is all steel, the handle octago-
nal, to give a firm hold to the
fingers in turning it, and may be
used for eggs from the size of
the Wood-pigeon's upwards.
The points of both are finely
cut like the teeth of a file, but
longitudinally. The blowpipe,
fig. 51, is about 5h inches in
length (measured along the
curve), and is made of German
silver, which from its clean-
liness, lightness, and freedom
from corrosion, will be found
the most suitable : it should be
light and tapering, and with a Driiis^'for ptrforating
ring at the upper end, to pre- Birds* Eggs.
vent it from slipping out of
the mouth when used. A piece of thiu wire, fig. 53,
should be kept in the tube when ]iot in use, to

E

74

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE - GO S SIP.

prevent it from becoming stopped up by any foreign
substance. A common jeweller's blowpipe may be
used for large eggs, such as those of gulls and
ducks. Fig. 53 is a small glass bulb-tube, which
may be used for sucking out the contents of very
delicate eggs, and other purposes, which will be
explained hereafter. The small drill and blowpipe
may be carried inside the cover of the note-books.

Fig. 51. German
silver Blowpipe.

Fig. 52. Wire for
unstopping ditto.

Fig. 53.
Glass Bulb-tube,
for sucking eggs.

The sooner a fresh egg is emptied of its contents
after it is taken from the nest the better: this
should be done by making a hole ia the side with
the drill (choosing the side which is least conspicu-
ously marked) by working it gently backwards and
forwards between the forefinger and thumb, and
taking great care not to press too heavily, or the egg
will burst with the outward pressure of the drill :
a very small hole will generally be found sufficient.
When this is done, take the egg in the left band with
the hole dowmvards, introduce the blowpipe, by
blowing gently through which the contents may
soon be forced out. Water should then be intro-
duced by means of a syringe or the bulb-tube, wbich

may be filled and blown into the egg. After shaking,
blow the water out again by means of the blow-
pipe ; repeat this till the egg is free from any re-
mains of the yolk or white : should the egg not be
quite fresh, it will require more washing. Civre
should be taken to wet the surface of the egg as
little as possible. After washing the interior, lay
the egg, with the bole downwards, on a pad of
blotting-paper to drain till it is quite dry. Should
the eggs be much incubated, I should recommend
that the old birds be left to complete their labour
of love ; but a valuable egg may be made available
by carefully cutting a piece out of the side, extract-
ing the young one, and, after replacing the piece of
shell with strong gum-water, covering the join with
a slip of very thin silk-paper, which may be tinted
so as to resemble the egg, and will scarcely be
noticed. This is a very rough way of proceeding,
however, compared with Professor Newton's plan of
gumming several thicknesses of fine paper over
the side of the egg to strengthen it, through which
the hole is drilled ; the young chick is then cut into
small pieces by means of suitable instruments, and
the pieces removed with others :* the paper is then
damped and removed from the egg.

The old plan of making two holes in the side of
the egg is very objectionable : a hole at each end
is still worse. Many eggs would be completely
spoiled by washing, none improved. There is no
necessity for washing at all, except such as aro very
filthy, and these eggs (which you may be sure are
not fresh) are not such as should be willingly ac-
cepted as specimens : a little dirt only adds to the
natural appearance of the egg, washing in most
cases certainly does not. Never use varnish to the
shell ; it imparts a gloss whicb is not natural : all
eggs should not have a polished appearance like
those of the Woodpecker. Corrosive sublimate
dissolved in spirits of wine may be applied as a wash
to the inside of eggs which are not fresh when
blown, as the lining in such is very liable to decay,
or to be attacked by insects. It should be used very
carefully'as follows :— Suck a small quantity up into
the bulb-tube and discharge' it into the egg ; after
shaking it, to insure the entire surface being wetted
by the solution, blow out the superfluous moisture
and allow the egg to dry. Should the yolk be
dried to the side of the egg, a solution of carbonate
of soda should be introduced : let it remain till the
contents are softened, then blow out and wash well.
Great care must be taken not to allow the solution
to come in contact with the outside of the egg.
Having blown the egg, and allowed the inside to
become quite dry, procure some thin silk-paper gum-
med on one side, and with a harness-maker's punch

* "Suggestions for forming Collections of Birds' Eggs."
By Professor Newton. Written for the Smithsonian Institu-
tion of Washington, and republished by Newman, 9, Devon-
shire Street, Bishopsgate.

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

75

62. Gkeat Sedge-wabbler {Si/lvia turtoides,
Meyer).

C2. Received of , from the cabinet of Mr. .

«62. Taken by , a servant of , on the

banks of the river Tongrep, near Valken-
swaard, in the south of Holland, on the
9th June, 1855. The birds may be heard
a long way off by their incessant " Kara,

cut out a number of little tickets suitable to the
size of the hole in the eg^, moisten one of these,
and place it with the gum side downwards over the
hole, so as to quite cover it ; cover the ticket with a
coat of varnish, which will render it air-tight and
prevent its being affected by moisture. The egg
thus treated will bave all the appearance of a per-
fect specimen, and if kept from the light will suffer
very little from fading.

The note-book has been mentioned : this should
be a constant companion ; nothing should be left to
memory. When an egg is taken, a temporary pencil
number should at once be placed upon it, and this
number should correspond with the number attached
to an entry in the note-book, describing the nest (if
not removed), its situation, number of eggs, day of
month, and any other particular of interest. When
the egg is ready for the cabinet, as much of this
information (certainly, name, date, and locality)
should be indelibly marked upon it, as conveniently
as can be done (neatly, of course, and on the under
side) ; also the number referring to the collector's
general list of his collection, into which the im-
portant parts of the entry from the note-book
should be copied. Never trust to gummed labels,
which are always liable to come off : by writing the
necessary particulars upon the Q^g itself there can
be no confusion or mistake. Most collectors have
their own plan of cataloguing their collection. I
have adopted the following, which I find to answer
very well. Obtain a blank paper book, the size of
common letter-paper, rule a horizontal line across
the centre of each page, and make a complete list
of British birds, placing only two names on ea«h
page, one at the head of each division, pretixiug a
progressive number to each name : this number is
to agree with that marked on the egg of the species
named. Then follow the locality whence the egg
came, by whom taken (if not by myself), or" how it
came into my possession, with any other particular
worthy of note. With all eggs received in exchange
or otherwise, this note should, if possible, be ob-
tained in the handwriting of the person from whom
they are received, and the slip on which it is written
be affixed in the book under the number. When
specimens of the eggs of the same species are
obtained from various localities, those from each
locality should be distinguished by a letter prefixed
to the number. The plan will be better understood
by referring to the following extract :—

Kara, Kara." A few years ago not one
was to be found near Valkenswaard.

A. B

^62. Bought at Antwerp in August, 1865.

118. Mealy Red-pole {Fringilla borealis. Tew.).

118. Nyborg, at the head of Mask Fjord (one
of the two branches into which Waran-
gar Fjord divides). East Finmark, Nor-
way, July, 1S55. The birds were very
plentiful, and only one species seen, which
appears quite identical with that which
visits England every winter.

C. D. E

By means of these entries, and the corresponding
number on the egg, mistakes are impossible, and
the name and history of each egg would be quite as
well known to a stranger as to the possessor. It
needs not to be said that this catalogue is replete
with the deepest interest to its compiler. In it he
sees the record of many a holiday trip and many a
successful find. Some of its entries,— for the earliest
date back five-and-tvpenty years, are memorials
of companions long since dead, or separated
by rolling oceans, but on whose early friendship
it is a pleasure to dwell.

Nothing can be more vexatious and disappointing
than the receipt of a box Of Valuable eggs in a
smashed or injured condition from want of care or
knowledge of the proper method of packing. A
simple method is recommended by Professor
Nevpton, which, from experience, 1 can confidently
recommend : — Roll each egg in tow,.wool, or some
elastic material, and paisk them closely m a stout
box, leaving no vacant space for them to sliake ; or
a layer of soft material may be placed at the bottom
of the box, and upon it a layer of eggs, each one
wrapped loosely in old newspape*"; upon this
another layer of wool or moss, theS again eggs,
and packing alternately until the box is quite full.
Bran, sawdust, c%c., should never te used ; and it
should be ascertained that the box is quite filled,
so that no shaking or settlement cm. occur.

Almost every collector has his own plan for con.
structing his cabinet, an<i displaying his collection •
The beginner, if left to himself, will find it a matter
of no small difficulty, and many will be the changes
before he arrives at one at all satisfactory. Mr.
Osbert Salvin has invented a plan which I think as
near perfection as it is possible to arrive at, and
through his kindness I am enabled to give a brief
description of it. In the first place his cabinets
are so constructed that the drawers, of different
depths, are interchangeable. This is effected by
placing the runners, which carry the drawers, at a
fixed distance from each other, and making the
depth of each drawer a multiple of the distance

E 2

76

HARDWICKE'S S CI ENCE- GOSSIP.

between tlie runners. For example : if the run-
ners are f of an inch off each other, then let the
drawers be Vr, 21, 3, 3], 4^, &c., inches deep. All
these drawers will be perfectlj' interchangeable, and
a drawer deep enough to hold an ostrich's egg can
in a few moments be placed amongst those con-
taining warblers'; every requirement of expansion
and rearrangement will be vastlj' facilitated, involv-
ing none of those radical changes so worrying to a

rig. 51. Section of Sliding stage.

collector.* Mr. Salvin's plan of arranging the
eggs is equally simple, and admits of any amount of
change with very little trouble. Each drawer is
divided longitudinally by thin slips of wood into
three or more parts, about 4 to 6 inches across, as
may be convenient ; a number of sliding stages are
then constructed of card-board, by cutting the

Fig. 55. Cabinet Drawer on Mr. Salvin's plan

card-board half through, at exactly the width of
the partition, and bending the sides down to raise
the stage to the required heiglit. A section of one
of these stages will be seen in fig. 51, and the
arrangement in the drawer at fig. 55. A number of
oval holes are then to be cut by hand, or with a
wadding-punch of suitable size (altered in shape by

* Of course, cabinets thus constructed will be found
equally convenient for collections of bird-skins, fossils, &c.

hammering), and a thin layer of cotton-wool gum-
med on the upper surface of the stage : the holes,
of course, should be suitable in size to the egg they
are intended to receive. Between these stages
sliding partitions must be placed : these should be
made of just sufficient height that the horizontal
part may fit closely on the wool, as shown at
fig. 5i. These partitions should be made of thin
wood for the upright part, along which a hori-
zontal strip of card-board is to be
fastened with glue, on which is to be
placed a label bearing the name of
tlie species of egg displayed on the
stage, as seen in fig. 55. All this will
be better understood by referiing to
the figures.

Eig. 54' represents a longitudinal
section of one of the stages in its
place, with the ends of the two next ;
showing the card-board stage, the cottoii-wro\ the
sliding 'partition, and the horizontal slip of card-
board to carry the label.

Fig. 55 represents one of the drawers on Mr.

Salvin's plan ; it is divided into three parts (1, 2, 3)

by fixed partitions. No. 1 is represented empty;

No. 2 with the specimens arranged ; No. 3, with

two stages and two of the

movable partitions.

This may appear very com-
plicated at first sight, but a
few trials will be sufficient to
master the details, and the
result will be very beautiful if
neatly carried out. The eggs
are well shown, not liable to
fall out of their places, and it is
very little trouble to alter the
arrangement, every part being
movable. Each drawer should
be covered by a sheet of glass
to exclude dust.

Mr. Salvin's cabinet is an
excellent one for holding the
nests of birds, which sliould be
removed with as little damage
as possible, and placed in the
drawers, under cover of glass-
Great care must be taken to
keep them free from moth, to
whicli they are very liable ; for this purpose they
should be dressed witii the solution of corrosive
sublimate.

The young collector should remember that what
is worth doing at all is worth doing well, and that
the care bestowed upon his cabinet is not labour in
vain ; habits of exactness, and precision of arrange-
ment, are absolutely necessary if he would make the
best use of the materials which come in his way ;

HARDWICKR'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

77

and, above all, never let liim degenerate into the
mere collector: his collection should be for use,
and not merely ornaneutal.

ON CHANGES IN THE LOCALITIES OF

SOME OF THE RARER ENGLISH

PLANTS.

THE query of a correspondent in the January
number of Science-Gossip (p. 19) incites mc
to make a few observations on the localities of some
of the rarer plants of England, and the alterations
that may have occurred in several instances, which
are very tantalizing to a collector. Compilers of
Floras and Manuals copy localities from each
other too often without inquiring if they still con-
tinue as in years past, and thus a student or collector
who depends upon " Botaaists' Guides," or even
local catalogues (except of very recent date), will
be often disappointed in his researches. It is per-
haps hardly to be expected that technical writers
on the British Flora, chiefly careful to note the
characters of plants, will trouble themselves about
localities, when they find them already recorded by
good observers, and may of course presume that
the plants retain the positions assigned them.
But still I think that, in the case of very local
species, a coadjutor might be called in who could
make inquiries, and might easily get information
from well-known botanists in the counties where
these rare plants "were said to grow, whether they
still continued as placed by former observers, had
remained in the spots indicated, spread farther, or
become altogether extinct. This would add but
little to the letter-press of Floras, where there is
generally plenty of blank space, and the advantage
to collecting practical botanists would be import-
ant, while it would be an advantage to science if
the date were given when the local plant was last
observed.

Mr. A. French, of Banbury, inquires as to
Thlaspi perfoliatum, which, as one of our rarest
cruciferous plants, certainly requires to be specially
noted as to its places of grov^th. The neighbour-
hood of Witney and Burford, Oxfordshire, was
given by Sibthorpe and Sir James Smith, as
localities for this plant many years ago, and I pre-
sume that Walker, in his " Flora of Oxfordshire,"
would satisfy himself that it was there. Dr.
Hooker, in his recently published " Student's
Flora," merely gives "Oxford and Gloucester-
shire," without designating any particular spot. I
believe, however, that Saperton was intended in
the latter county, where the Thlaspi was gathered
by a member of the Cotteswolde Field Club. It
may probably still remain somewhere about Wilney
and Burford, but the plant has extended its range
in a northern direction of late years, as it is now to

be found in some plenty at a place called " Hyate's
Pits," an abandoned quarry of oolitic stone in the
parish of Snow's Hill, Gloucestershire, though very
close to Broadway, in Worcestershire ; and I have
also a speciuicn from Evenlode, Worcestershire,
which is, however, in the oolite district. It is
certainly important to kuow whether a rare plant
has increased or diminished, as in the former case
its claims to be considered truly indigenous are
better founded.

There are certain plants found in Britain limited
to particular localities, from which they never
wander, and which, nevertheless, may be considered
true natives, though some of them have got under
the ban of Mr. "Watson as " denizens," a name
that I by no means approve. For why should the
Coioneaster vulgaris or the PotentiUa rupestris,
which are both confined to single rocks in Wales,
be considered "native," \f\i\\e Eryngiitm campestre,
found in several spots both in England and Wales,
distant from each other, is placed merely as a
"denizen"? With regard to this latter plant, said,
I think incorrectly, to be found "near ballast-heaps,"
but which I have seen growing on Worle Hill,
Weston-super-Mare, far from any ballast, and in a
truly natural position, I can adduce another truly
inland locality, having seen the leaves of the plants
freshly gathered from a waste spot between Ted-
stone, Herefordshire, and Upper Sapey, Worces-
shire, in August, 1SG7. This is a plant not often
to be met with in flower, but its leaves are charac-
teristic and cannot be mistaken.

Complaints are frequently made by collecting
botanists that they cannot find a plant at the spot
indicated, which perhaps has been too hastily
searched, and should have a second visit, unless
some sagacious "old inhabitant" can be met with.
On my first visit to Craig Breidden, I could not
hit upon the exact spot for Toienlilla rupestris, but
found it the following day. So I had to explore
Braunton Burrows, a wide expanse of sandhills and
marshy ground, ere I could detect the very rare
Isolepis (or Scirpus) holosckcemis, though it was
plentiful in one particular spot in a hollow easily
overlooked. Rambling botanists must not there-
fore be too hasty in their conclusions.

It would not be easy to find Draba aizoides on
the rocks of the coast of Glamorgan, but it grows
kindly on the adjacent walls of Pennard Castle, and
will no doubt continue to do so until some change
of circumstances determines the fate of the ruinated
castle itself. I heard that the botanists of the
Severn Valley Field Club made an excursion last
year to Stokesay, in Shropshire, to gather the
Astrantia major, which grows near that place on
a Silurian limestone eminence, called the View
Edge, ils only locality in Britain; and notwith-
standing a diligent hunt, they failed to detect the
plant ; yet the same year, guided by a neiglibour-

78

HARDWiCKE'S SCIENCE- GOSSIP.

ing clergyman (Rev. J. D. La Touche), I observed
the Astrantia in three several spots within the wood
upon the hill-side.

It must be noted, however, that some seasons
are more favourable to plants than others, so that
in particular years certain species may not appear
at all, or in very diminished numbers. This is
especially the case with certain of the Orchidke. I
have been in Wyre Eorest, near Bewdley, when its
glades were adorned with the elegant white flowers
of hundreds of the Ceplialanthera ensifolia ; yet
last "year, when searching over the same forest
ground, I could not meet with a single specimen. I
liave noticed the same thing in other places with
regard to Spiranthes autumiialis, which, seen plenti-
fully in one particular season, could not be observed
the next. Epipogium Gmelini (or aphijlliim), though
gathered a few years since at Tedstone, Hereford-
shire, has not been seen since, though it may possibly
reappear uuder favourable circumstances. In woody
ground the fallage of trees and shrubs often deter-
mines the appearance of plants for a time, till the
ground is shadowed over again by a dense growth
of thickets and brambles. So where local plants
grow about quarries, the displacement of the
ground removes them, as I have noticed with re-
gard to Carex humilis on Worle Hill, Somerset,
where extensive quarries have been developed.
Commons and waste ground, too, get inclosed,
broken up, and built upon, and so local plants are
extinguished, unless they can take shelter in an
undisturbed corner. I noticed the uncommon
Bupleurum tenuissimum on Ealing Common, Middle-
sex, some years ago, and Myosurus minimus at the
then rural hamlet of Perivale, in the same vicinity ;
but such changes have since taken place there, and
numerous villas erected, that probably the plants
mentioned may never be seen there again.

Thus it is that advancing civilization acts upon
the plants of a country ; old localities are blotted
out and new ones have to be observed and noted.
Mr. Newman remarks, with regard to the local fern
Asplenium luticeolaticm, that " the vicinity of Bar-
mouth (Merionethshire) seems a very favourite
locality for this fern ; " and it used to be quite
abundant on, the rocks and walls by the road-
side there. But Barmouth has increased as a water-
ing-place, and a railroad brings numerous summer
visitors, among whom have been unscrupulous
marauders, who have carried otf the rare Asplenium,
so that when I was at Barmouth last summer not
a single plant could I see anywhere about. Never-
theless I discovered the fern on stone walls at
Pant Einon, a few miles south of Barmouth, on the
opposite side of the river Mawddach. I need not
give further instances illustrative of the subject
touched upon, as I have said enough to show the
advantage of reporting recent observations on the
changes of locality in the rarer plants, or their per-

manence at particular spots ; and where changes
have occurred they should be noticed in the new
editions of general floras,

Edwin Lees, E.L.S.
Green Rill, Worcester, March 8, 1872.

THE NEW RHINOCEROS AT THE
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.

f\^ all the recent additions to the magnificent
^-^- collection of the Zoological Society, few will
be of more interest to the intelligent sight-seer
than the Sumatran Rhinoceros. We paid a visit,
a few days ago, to this animal, under the able
guidance of Mr. Bartlett, and saw his surly brute-
ship rolled up in all the unapproachable^ dignity of
one who has just dined, and does not care to be
disturbed.

After a few probes, assisted by bribes in the
shape of biscuits, we managed to get it on its legs.
Its appearance, thus seen, is very remarkable. It
is not so large as the Indian or African species, and
seems longer in proportion to its height. Its hide
resembles that of its African brother, rather than
its Indian, in being freer Irom the huge folds into
which the thick skin of the Indian species is thrown,
and which adds so much to the repulsive appear-
ance of the latter. Its head is'"more elongated and
pig-like than either, and its lower jaw is dis-
tinguished by being squarely cut ; whereas in the
two former it is more tapering, and so far is con-
formable to the upper part. Like the African
species, the new arrival is marked by having its
ears fringed with a long reddish hair, which gives
it a very fierce look. This hair, however, is much
longer and thicker than that on the ears of the
African Rhinoceros, so that the ears themselves
look longer and larger in consequence. It resem-
bles the African species more than the Indian, also,
in being two-horned.

Singular as it may seem, that a rhinoceros from
the Indiau region (Sumatra) should in so many re-
spects resemble the African species more than that
which is so well known to us as the " Indian "
Rhinoceros, yet we think that even this pecu-
liarity is secondary to the still more striking simi-
larity between the animal of which we are speaking
and a species which has been extinct probably since
the appearance of man on the earth. We allude to
that known as Rhinoceros tichorhinus, whose re-
mains are usually found in the same post-glacial
deposits as the Mammoth {Elephas primigenius).
The long hair on the ears of our Sumatran species
has already been mentioned, and so far this feature
is partly shared by the African type. There, how-
ever, the resemblance stops, for the Sumatran
Rhinoceros has the whole of its body more or less
covered with short, brown, woolly hair ; the hair
on the back is longer, and like the " hog mane " of a

HAflDWlCKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

79

horse. ludeed, so peculiar is this hirsute cover-
ing, that the species almost deserves the name of
" hairy."

lu this respect, therefore, it at ouce puts us in
mind of the Rhinoceros tichorhiiius, or " Woolly-
haired Rhinoceros," whose bones and teeth are
found in our bone-caverns and river-gravels. The
latter M'as found, as a frozen carcass, in the in-
tensely frozen soils of Siberia ; and described by
Pallas in 1793. This was before the discovery of a
contemporaneous hairy elephant. But the woolly
hair of the extinct species was much longer, and
was evidently an adaptation to the rigorous circum-
stances uuder which the animals provided with it
had to exist. There are other features shared
partly in common- between the extinct type and
the animal iu the Zoological Gardens. The former
was two-horned, like the latter, and its teeth and
bones iadicate a close resemblance, as far as size is
concerned. We conclude, therefore, that it is not
impossible the Sumatran species may be a lineal
descendant of the extinct Rhinoceros tichorhinus.
Siberia, where the ktter seems last to have roamed, is
more intimately connected with India than is any
other part of the globe ; the Indian tiger stiil finds
its way thither, when forced by hunger ; and the
short woolly hair of the Sumatran Rhinoceros
may be the relics of a covering which once formed
no unimportant character to the northern pro-
genitor of the species we ai-e dwelling upon.
Further, the occurreace of tliis species on the island
of Sumatra at once shows that it must have ex-
tended thither before the separation of that island
from the Indian coutinentj as the sea is by far too
extensive for it to have crossed by swimniiug. Its
geographical distribution, therefore, is a good proof
of its antiquity ; whilst its general replacement iu
India by the Indian species would lead us to infer
that the latter and dominant species was the most
recently introduced. We strongly advise all our
readers who have the opportunity to pay a visit to
an animal which seems, in many respects, to be one
of the " missing links." J. E. Taylok.

A GOSSIP ABOUT BLACKCAP WARBLERS.

AFTER hearing Mr. Rudd's excellent " Gossip
about Canaries" in the March number of
Science-Gossip, I thought it might perhaps both
interest and profit some of your readers to learn a
little of my experience in the treatment of the above
graceful aud beautiful birds. As a cage bird, with
proper care, I know of none which at the same time
is so tame aud so well repays the little trouble he
gives by his wild and rich song, in which he excels
every chorister of the grove as regards rapidity and
clearness. Mudie says " that although the Blackcap
Warbler has not the volume and variety of the

Nightingale, nor the .ineffably sweet chant of the
Garden Warbler, its notes take us by surprise, and
the changes, and especially the trills, are finer than
those of any other bird."

I have never been without several of these birds
in cages. They readily take to confinement, and
never seem to repine at their lot, or sulk and mope
as is often the case with the Nightingale ; they are
also easy to manage at the moulting and iiiigrutory
seasons. I have had them so tame that they would
perch ou the finger and take any insect offered
them. Of all insects they, however, have a pre-
ference for the spider aud the mealworm.

The Blackcap being both insectivorous and
frugivorous, requires a blending of the two iu con-
fiuement. I have always found the following the
best standard food for both the Blackcap and
all other warblers :— Ants' eggs, one teaspoonful;
chopped cabbage, one ounce; currants (grocer's),
one ounce ; powdered rusks, one ounce ; hemp-
seed, one ounce ; German paste, one ounce ; the
yolks of two hard-boiled eggs, which should be
well rubbed up with the rusk and hempseed, and-
then all mixed together.

The best German paste is made from Mr. Adams's
recipe ; viz., Take 2 ounces bullock's liver boiled
and grated ; 6 ounces pea-meal, 4 ounces stale
bread-crumbs finely rubbed ; the raw yolk of one
fresh c^g. Mix these well together ; then put into
a clean frying-pan gently heated, one ounce of
unsalted butter ; add the above mixture ; place
the frying-pan on a very slow fire, stir till a little
brown ; when taken off the fire and still warm, mix
2 ounces coarse sugar ; let . the whole stand in the
pan till quite cold, then add 12 ounces ground hemp-
seed and 1 ounce of maw-seed. Mix the whole
well together, and leave the compound in grains
about the size of canary-seed ; then put into pots
well covered up. The embers of a fire answer best
in making this paste, as the nourishment is de-
stroyed if it is burnt, and if not equally and gently
done it is apt to mould. A uniform and rich brown
is the proper colour.

Mr. Sweet, who first kept the Blackcap suc-
cessfully, always used scalded bread-crumbs and
powdered hemp-seed scalded and mixed together
with some finely-chopped beef or yolk of e^g hard
boiled. This forms an excellent change from the
former food ; as is likewise scalded rusk biscuit
with all the superfluous water pressed out, and as
much milk added as the rusk will take up. This
would be good for them once or twice a week, but
not oftener, as milk used too often makes the
feathers fall off, and brings on consumption by re-
laxation of the bowels. The Blackcap is also fond
of curds, which may be made iu a homely way by
placing iu a clean pan half a pint of new milk,
placing it on the fire, and, when just at the boiling
point, put into it a tablespoouful of vinegar, which

80

HARDWICKE'S S CIEN C E-GO SSIP.

coagulates it ; then run through a colander and
wash the curds with cold water, so that no sour
taste is left. I have often used with good effect the
Nightingale's staple food ; viz., equal parts of very
finely-minced beef and yolk of hard-boiled egg well
mixed together and nicely chopped into small
pieces : this some blackcaps are very fond of,
whilst I have noticed others would not touch it.
Give them fruit in their season ; such as ripe elder-
berries, soft pears, roast apple, &c., as in their wild
state they begin with the ivy-berries on their arrival
in April, and depart in September, after regaling
themselves on the Jargonelle pear. I would parti-
cularly advise a constant change of food : never
keep to one thing, and there will be very few deaths
to record. I find it best in winter to turn all the
blackeai>s together into a large cage, and along
with them any other warblers I may happen to have :
they are thus warmer and more comfortable, and a
large cage gives room for giving them a much
larger assortment of food, which may be arranged
in small hang-up tins all over the cage near the
perches. A blackcap's cage should only be wired
in front, and the perches should be covered with
green baize. Another advantage attends keeping
all the birds together in winter: by seeing each
other eat different foods, it is astonishing how they
get used to eating food which, if alone, tiiey would
not touch. I have known nightingales which
would eat nothing but beef and egg, in this manner,
by the society of blackcaps and garden warblers,
lake to feeding on ail the above-mentioned foods.
Kendal. J. S. Metcalfe.

ON THE ERUIT OF THE CALAMITE.

rpHE readers of Science-Gossip will remember
-*- I promised, at the close of my article on the
Calamite, in the September number, 1871, that I
would send short descriptions of some of the known
plants and fruits of our coal-measures : I shall now
try to describe the supposed fruit of the Calamite.
I say "supposed" because I have reason to doubt
that it is the fruit of the Calamite proper, although
it is held to be such by Binney, Carruthers, and
others : my reason for expressing this doubt I will
explain further on.

This fruit is known as VoJkmannla Blnneyi, and
is a strobilus : these strobili arc found attached in
whorls to the nodes of the plant (o which they be-
longed. (Sec Mr. Carruthers' Lecture "On the
Cryptogamic Eorests of tiie Coal Period," delivered
at the Royal Institution of Great Britain, April IG,
18G9; also Mr. Binney's Monograph, published
by the Palajontographical Society, plate G, fig. 1.)

Those who arc conversant with the structure of
the fruit of the common "horse-tail" of the present
day will see a family likeness between it and the

fruit we have now under notice. Yet there is a
marked difference between them ; for while the for-
mer is terminal at the top of the plant, the latter
was produced in the whorls at the nodes "or joints
of the stem or branches. Again, while the former
shields its sporangia by simple peltate scales, the
latter are protected by additional scales or bracts
that pass between the peltate scales and then ascend
the outside of the fruit, as seen sketched in fig. 56, a.

Fig-. 56. Vertical section of Fruit of Calamite.

The sporangia are produced from the underside of
the peltate scales, as in fig. 5G, h. There are six of
these sporangia-bearing scales in each whorl, and
double that ^number of protecting scales outside
them. The central axis or pith of this fruit is of a
vascular nature, and the walls of the vessels are
barred with transverse stria;. The centre of the
fruit is often full of these barred vessels (fig. 57, a).
It will be seen by reference to the vertical section
(fig. 5G) that one or two of these vessels are given off
and enter each bract at every whorl : the same
arrangement is also found in the strohilus of Lepido-
icndron Ilarcovrtii. The spores of the fruit under
notice are spherical, and appear to have a double
cell-wall. I have found no appearance of claters at-
tached to thcni, though Mr. Carruthers asserts he
has seen them. I have noticed the outer cell-wall
broken in many cases, and I am afraid jNIr. Carru-
thers has mistaken this broken outer wall for an
elater. I have come across these spores almost in

nAllDWlCKE'S SClENCE-GOSSir.

81

every positiou, but never could detect the presence
of the elaters.

It seems to have been made out by Mr. Binney
and other fossil botanists, that all cones or strobili
are only altered forms of the branches on which
they are borne, and if so, the central axis of the
cone must be of a similar form to that of the stem
and branch. Mr. Binney has proved this to be the
case so far as Lepidodendron. IL.trcourt'd is coucerued;

Fig:. 57. Transverse se:tioa of fruit of Calitnite.

and if it holds good in one instance, we have reason
to expect it will do so in others. Now it will be
remembered by those who read ray former article
on the Calamite, that no vascular pith or axis was
represented in the sketches I gave. No calamite
I have ever yet cut has shown such a vascular pitli,
and yet we are told that the fruit here described,
having a vascular axis, throwing off bundles of ves-
sels to every bract, is the fruit of the Calamite. It
may belong to some member of the family of Cala-
■mites, but I do not believe it belongs to the Cala-
mite I described in my last article.

Two new species of fiuit found by myself have
been described in recent memoirs of the Manchester
Philosophical Society, by Professor W. C. William-
sou. The first of these fruit she calls a new form
of Calamitean Strobilus, the latter he describes
under the name of Volkmannia Dawsonii. The first
of these answers to the theory laid down by Mr.
Binney, and v.as evidently borne from the end of
the stem or branches : it has no vascular axis or
pith, but has a hollow woody cylinder with nodes
or joints ; a thin cellular layer lines this cylinder, as
is seen in the stem of a calamite ; from the nodes
bracts are given off to support the sporangia (the
spores are of a peculiar kind, cuch spore seeming to
possess a nucleus), but there are no intermediate
protecting, bracts, as in the accompanying sketches.
The latter cone (Folkmannla DawsGiui) is more

nearly allied to the one in our sketches, having a
vascular pith or centre, giving off bundles of vessels
to each bract. It has a great number of sporangia,
each sporangium being supported from the base of
the bracts by a sporangiophore : its spores are like
those of Volkmannia, and are very numerous. Por
further description of these two last cones, I refer
my readers to the "JMemoirs of the Manchester
Literary and Philosophical Society," third series,
vols. iv. andv. John Butterwobtii.

Goats, Shciw, near Oldham.

MY AQUARIUM.

A PEW years since I commenced a marine
aquarium, and often returned from my ram-
bles on the rocks to place, with boyish pride, the
many mingled bright and sober tints of the Smooth
Anemone {Adimu uieserubruaiithemum) in a finger-
glass or dish, watching with wonder and delight
the turquoise-like beads which shune as gems
between their waving tentacles.

It would be tedious to trace, step by step, the
successive stages which have marked my progress
in collecting various specimens ; suffice it to say,
that I have truly exemplified the Darwinian theory
of development with regard to my aquarium : so I
think a description of the one I possess at present
may prove interesting to may readers of Science-
Gossir.

It consists of a bell jar holding about five gallons
of watci', which, from its gently sloping slides, pre-
sents a large surface to the atmosphere. Although
generally protected from the direct rays of the sun,
I observe that the inner surface of the glass is
gradually beiug covered with algse, thus obscuring
the view ; so I clean out* the aquarium, and, as I
replace its contents in their proper element, will
enumerate the specimens it contains.

I abstract the water by means of a siphon, and
then carefully place the varied animal life in a dish.
There — now it is quite empty. Having wasbed off
the confervaj with weak acid, I re-fill it with the
same water that was taken out ; I then suspend, by
means of a float, a large tuft of common green
ulva, growing on the back of a dead crab, and
throw in a quantity of clean gravel to the depth of
about three inches. This fulling through the
water in a continuous shower, carries with it a con-
siderable amount of air, which naturally rushes to
the surface ; but being waylaid by the weed, quickly
covers it with myriads of globules.

The aquarium is now ready for the reception of
the live stock, so I proceed to arrange these with a
view to colour, size, habits, &e. Here is a splendid

* If life were properly balanced, this should never require
to be done.— Ei). S. G.

S3

HARDWICKE'S SC IE N CE-GOSS IP.

shell of a Gasteropod, with three fine specimens of
the Plumose Anemone {Actiniloba pliimosa), dis-
tributed on its snowy surface and spiny projec-
tions. This I place immediately in the centre, so
that it appears magnified from every side. I now
tunnel a deep groove in the gravel, in which I coil
the long and muddy cases of the Sabella spiralis,
propping the opening with stones, in order that its
umbrella-like plumes of spotted brown may contrast
with the gay tints of the Plumose.

What strange iri-egular mass is this ? Why,
that is the top shell of one of the Lamellibranchiata,
and those tubes, like tobacco-pipes, and the leathery
sand-cases fixed to it, are the structures of Tubico-
lidse. I will place this as a radiation from the
centre, and you will soon see the gorgeous bran-
chial tufts of Serpula;, varying from the purest white
and pink to the deepest crimson, from the faintest
magenta to the richest purple, slowly expand,
-mingling with the white and feathery plumes of the
smaller Sabella. k circular space, once the resting-
place of some large limpet, remains quite bare ; on
it I will place this fine strawberry anemone, with
his richly-spotted surface of yellow and red. Next
comes an empty whelk-shell, so elaborately covered
with the twisted architecture of serpulee, that it is
very difficult to recognize its form. This is cer-
tainly the handsomest specimen I have. The base
is literally covered with small tubes, each possess-
ing its beautifully coloured annelid, while, from the
centre, six serpulfc of unusual size erect their lime
buildings, branching out in semblance of a lady's
fan.

Clinging round the orifice of the shell is a fine
"Sample of Actinia clavafa, or Weymouth Anemone,
its white and pink body streaked with warty pro-
jections of deeper hue, its long and delicate tenta-
cles of pearly white. Close by its side a small
white crassicornis displays its short but beautifully
transparent teutacula, forming a contrast to the
elegant length of clavata. And now an oyster-
-shell claims attention : this is likewise built over by
serpulse, interspersed with small sabellse. Round
the edge are three deep water-daisies, with their
beautifully shaded disks of brown and pink ; also
two delicate miniata are seen drooping from an
overhanging bunch of serpulse, their elegant filamen-
tous tentacles sweeping the gravel as they fall
from the chequered disks of grey and black.
Some time since I had a pretty Eolis and a Boris,
but both died for want of proper food.

This piece of rock will just complete our circle
round the centre shell. Besides the numerous
serpulse, I see there is a hillock of polyps— the
orange-tinted Alcyonium digitatum, and the dirty-
looking form of one of the tunicated molluscs. Ah !
here is a small and delicate Ophiura throwing its
long arms over the tubes in search of prey. Wait
a moment while I place this obliquely against the

glass, for underneath there is the pretty sand and
gravel case of the Terebella. I am especially care-
ful as to the position of this, for I like to watch the
play of his hydra arms with my hand lens.

Two pieces of coralline {C. officinalis), a fine col-
lection of sertularia, the prickly round of Echimis
miliaris, a gentleman who, by the bye, plays
much the same havoc as a hedgehog might be sup-
posed to do, and two grey mullets, complete my
stock.

I leave them to recover from their alarm at being
disturbed, and when, to-morrow morning, I view
them through the crystal water, beautiful indeed
will be my miniature garden of the sea. Here gor-
geous flowers of prismatic hues will expand beneath
a canopy of green, mingling with tinted, waving
palms, ever and anon, mimosa-like, closing their
petals with lightning speed as some dark shadow
falls across the glass, again to unfold their beau-
teous shapes with graceful motion in the limpid
water. There the ever-flowing tendrils of the long-
armed hydra twine around the sober shade of
larger flowers, or creep in careless, idle sport be-
tween the coral arches ; while little fish, like silvery
birds, cleave the yielding medium, and cause the
sea of plumes to wave like grass in summer's
breeze. But how softly the gloom of night is clos-
ing, hiding the gay vision, only that new beauties
may appear. The fairy scene reminds one forcibly
of Schleiden's description of the Indian Ocean. A
shower of Noctilucsc, fresh dipped from the phos-
phorescent sea, and gently poured into the aqua-
rium, again illumine the globe. Gaily dancing
hither and thither, up and down, scintillating in
and out my garden paths, they complete a picture
of loveliness beyond my powers of description to
portray. If I fail here in describing the view as it
appears to the unassisted eye, how shall I attempt
to give even a faint idea of the new world which
the microscope discovers ?

I place a filament of ulva in a watch-glass, and,
aided by a good objective, a wondrous vision is
unfolded, so full of beauty, so exquisitely adapted
to the performance of every function, that wonder
changes to the deepest reverence, as thought flies
upward to the Great First Cause.

Looking closer we gaze into a green forest teem-
ing with life. Busy " builders " arc erecting their
homes side by side ; all round them are the living
flowers— the harebells of my forest, Vorticillidse—
while close at hand, what I may truly term the
Victoria Regia — Stephanoceros EicJwrnii — rears
its stately crown. Here some active animalcule,
bustling and fussy, comes dashing along, right and
left, and then off with a jerk to unexplored regions,
to be succeeded by others so gentle and graceful,
that

" In their very motion there is rest."

Weymouth. Walter B. Cole.

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

83

NEW BOOKS.*

TN the volume which heads our list, we have the
-*- result of careful, philosophical, and conscien-
tious thought. Mr. Leifchild has, we think,
attempted too much, for the subject is of such a
ramifying nature that any work treating of it must
necessarily appear diffuse. The author has here
grappled with all the leading questions in natural
science whose deductions appear to be, or actually
are, at variance with revealed religion. He does so in
a manner that proves he is at least well acquainted
with them,— a qualification that is not always pos-
sessed by writers who take his side. Although we
differ toto ccelo from many of his conclusions, we
are happy to afford our testimony to the original
thoughts which sparkle in his pages, and to the
excellent and attractive English in which they are
couched. Like him, we feel that natural science,
rightly viewed, is not antagonistic to true religion,
whatever it may be to some human dogmas which
have associated themselvesparasitically with it. But
we do not take the extreme view of the material-
istic tendencies of the modern pliilosophy that Mr.
Leifchild does. We think that, occasionally, in
combating them, he falls into the common error of
fighting with giants of his own creation 1 His
chapters on Darwinism are well worked out, and
will be read with pleasure even by the most confirmed
Darwinian. There we have associated the views of
Darwin, Wallace, Spencer, Mivart, Huxley, Beaie,
and others who have taken sides on this important
subject. Still, we tkiuk Mr. Leifchild has not
thoroughly understood the Darwinian theory as to
the formation of species, ior lie repeats the stock
opposition argument about "connecting links" not
being forthcoming from the ^geological deposits ;
whereas the true naturalist is aware that, compared
with the existing fauna and flora, all the fossil
species are more or less of this nature, both geuer-
ically and specifically. We agree thoroughly with
the author that " Evolution demands an Evolver,"
but we demur to purely scientific questions being
treated on theological, instead of on scientific grounds.
To whatever conclusions our researches may lead,
we are bound honestly to follow them if they be but
true ! We have no right to dictate beforehand the
only paths along which scientific thought may
travel. Having spoken thus candidly of a book

* " The Higher Ministry of Nature viewed in the Light of
Modern Science." By John R. Leif3hild, M.A. London :
Stodder & Houghton, 18/2.

" Science and Humanity." By Dr. Porter, President of
Yale College. London: Stodder & Houghton. 18/2.

" Worms," a series of Lectures on Practical Helmintho-
ogy. By Dr. Spencer Cobbold, F.R.S. London: J. & A.
Churchill. 1972.

" Elementary Treatise on Natural Philosophy." By Pro-
fessor Everett. London: Blackie & Son. I872.

which cannot fail to impress the reader as the
product of no ordinary mind, we leave it to make
its undoubted mark.

Of Dr. Porter's address, here published, we can
say little, and that little not altogether favourable.
After a careful reading through, we have not felt
impressed by any part, except that devoted to
a strong, almost violent, tirade against Herbert
Spencer's philosophy, wliich he tells us " will soon
cease to be the wonder of the hour." Of Spencer
he pityingly adds, that "he will suffer a more
complete neglect than he will fairly deserve." Our
acquaintance with Spencer's writings leads us to
conclude that Dr. Porter has not yet risen to the
stage of fairly comprehending them. Addresses like
these must injure the cause advocated far more
than anything else.

It is gratifying to get on the ground of pure
scientific research, as we do when we come to
Dr. Spencer Cobbold's work on Practical Helmin-
thology. That gentleman has elevated a study both
repulsive and disgusting, into one at once attractive,
philanthropically useful, and important. The book
before us is the result of a course of lectures
delivered on worms at the Medical College of the
Middlesex Hospital, and deals pretty fully with all
those forms of internal parasitism which ordinarily
come under the notice of the physician, together
with a list of cases illustrating the symptoms,
diagnosis, and treatment of internal parasitic
diseases.

The last book on our list is not connected with
the sciences to which the pages of Science-
Gossip are devoted, but we can recommend it,
especially for the number and value of its illustra
tions. It is a translation, with additions, by
Professor Everett, of Deschanel's work.

SKETCHES IN THE WEST OF IRELAND.
By G. H. K.

Introductory Remarks.

TRELAND is only a few hours' sail from either
-*- England or Scotland, but it seems to be a
greater terra incognita to the inhabitants of Great
Britain than Europe, Asia, Africa, America, or even
Australia; yet in this island there are places
worthy of being visited and explored ; and in these
sketches it is proposed to call attention to some of
them.

To the natives of the sister isle, one of the most
unknown parts of Ireland is the barony of Burren,
county Clare, lying on the Atlantic Ocean, and
bounded on the north by Gal way Bay (fig. 58).
In this area there is a peculiar botany ; the rocks
also are remarkable, while the county teems with
megalithic and other ancient structures.

81-

HARDWICKE'S SCIE?; CE-GOSSI P.

Fig. 5S. Terraced Hills of the Burren, as seen from the lorth of Galv. ay Bay.

The rocks in tliis part of Clare are piincipally
of upper carboniferous limestone age ; there are,
however, in places, outlying patches of the lower
coal-measure shales, while to the south and south-
west the limestone disappears under these newer
rocks. These latter, hereafter, will be more fully
described, and a few words may now be said about
the limestone,— the rock par excellence^ of " the
Burren"* {cui/jUcc, a stony or rocky district). Here
the carboniferous limestone, contrary to its general
Irish character, forms hills and mountain groups,
both strange and unique in outline and aspect,
as the sides of the hills, valleys, glens, and passes
consist of huge nearly horizontal steps, continuous
for miles (fig. 59) round the hills, up and down the
valley, in and out of the cooms, and in fact every-
where forming a imiversal character of the country.
These everlasting rocks give the hills a most
barren and poverty-stricken aspect ; yet the country
is far from deserving such a character. A stranger,
looking over a vast tract, sees nothing but grey,
cold rock, with loose stone walls interscctiDg it
here and there ; but what.will astonish him most
will be a herd of large heavy cattle enjoying them-
selves, apparently on a diet of limestone. If,
however, the crags are traversed, he will find that
all the cracks and crannies are full of most luxuriant
herbage, on which the cattle browse, the great draw-
back to the pasture being a scarcity of water. On
account of the nature of the rock, all water that
falls, percolates the mass, and would entirely dis-
appear but for a fev/ shale partings and chert layers
between the nearly horizontal beds, that stop its
descent ; thereby bringing it out as springs in dif-
ferent places. This water is so valuable, that from

time immemorial rectangLih.r troughs have been
excavated in the thick beds of limestone as storage-
cisterns for the surplus.

* This rock in England is commonly knovin as " mountain
limestone." In Ireland, however, except in Queen's county,
Clare, and county Sligo, it generally forms a low undulating
country, occupying the great central plain.

F;g. ;9. Terraced Hills, Glen Colombkin.

The country, however, is used more for winter
than summer pasturage, not only on account of the
small water-supply, but also as the climate is so
mild, that cattle do not require houses during the
winter months, while they increase rather than
diminish in flesh : even in the old annals we read of
the fat cattle from the Burren.* This country,
therefore, is a favourite winterage for the cattle
belonging to the extensive stock-owners of South
Galway and other places.

The Burren may be approached from the north,
south, or east ; the latter, however, in these railway
limes, seems to be the best route, besides having the
advantage of prominently and abruptly bringing the
traveller into contact with its wild and picturesque

* Ten hundred oxen from Burren was part of the tribute
of Cashcl to the kings of Erin.

HAIIDWICKE'S SCIENC E.GOSbiP.

85

scenery, as be drives or walks from Gort, a small
town and station uu the Atlienay and Enuis Hall-
way. Previous, however, to leaving Govt, some time
might profitably be spent in exploring the natural
curiosities in its ncighbouihood ; their description,
however, may form the subject of the first chapter-

PECULIAR TROUT OE LOCH ISLAY.
Br Jas. Thomson, E.G.S.

ON the S.E. side of the inland of Tslay, in the
neighbourhood of Mc Arthur's Head, and
extending inland for several miles to the west, there
extend a series of bold conical quartzito hills.
The highest of these is 1,000 feet above the level of
the sea. Situated in the interstices of these hills
are numerous tarns, or small lochs. In one of
those lochs occur trout with abnormally-formed
caudal tins. The loch is known in the island by the
nameof Loch-Na-M:iorichcn (Gaelic), which means,
in English, the "Shelly Loch;" it lies on the western
extremity of a plateau about a mile in breadth, and
900 feet above sea-level. It is bouudcJ on the
east by Ben Vigar, 1,000 feet above sea-level ; on
the south by Ben Urrara, 1,400 feet above sea-level ;
and by Ben Van, about 1,200 feet above sea-level ;
while to the west there is a gradual descent to the
sea, which is about seven miles distant. The sur-
rounding of the plateau is in outline like an
amphitheatre on a grand scale.

Ten hundred and forty-four yards to the east of
Loch-Na-Maorichen, at the base of the hills, there
is another loch, called Loch-Na-Breac (signifying,
in English, "Trout Loch)," which is about 100
feet above the level of Loch-Na-Maoricheu.
This is a deep, broad sheet of water, and is sur-
rounded by a ridge of quartzite rock, varying from
30 to CO feet in height, and forming a complete
barrier between it and Loch-Na-Maoricheu. This
loch abounds with small trout having the usually
formed hoiiiocercal caudal fins. The surplus v/ater
is carried away by a small runnel on the north side
of the loch, and flows down the valley on the north
side of Loeh-Na-ilaorichen, about 150 feet below
the level of the latter, joining the Lerggen stream
two miles further down the valley.

To the south, and at a considerably lower level,
are several small lochs, in which no fish have been
found during the last thirty years. One of these.
Loch Urrara, is a dark, deep sheet of water, and
has been many times lislied, but in no instance have
any fish been caught. Loch-Na-Maorichen is 250
feet long by 234 feet broad, and is surrounded by a
ridge of quartzite rock, which on the west is CO feet,
on the north and east 30 feet, and on the south
10 feet above its level. On the N.E. there is a
small runnel 15 inches broad, and from 18 to a

few inches deep. This outlet is partially filled with
water for a distance of 48 feet, where it is finally
lost to view. In descending the valley, there
is evidence of an old watercourse, which can be
traced down to the burn that carries away the
surplus water from Loch-Na-Breac. This old water-
course is well filled up with peat moss and surface
vegetation, while the surplus water, in rainy seasons,
can only be seen oozing tlu:ough the moss. It will
be apparent that there is now no connection between
Loch-Na-Maorichen and any other sheet or water-
course.

FiiT. Co.
Peculiar Trout of Loch Islay. Var. a, Acuminate tail.

On the south side of the loch there is evidence
of a second outlet, in the form of an elongated
depression, the bottom of which is covered by
angular fragments and masses of quartzite, similar
to what we now find around the south-eastern
margin of the loch ; but at present this outlet is
fully six feet above the level of the water in the
loch. In and surrounding the south-east margin of
the loch, an area is covered Vt'ith angular fragments
and boulders of quartzite rock. The surface of
these stones is dotted with numerous little black
oblong spots, which, when examined, are found to
contain the larvai of the little dark flies so frequently
found moving about under the banks and sheltered
places of pools and streams.

Fig. 61. Peculiar Trout of Loch Islay. Var. b, Ruuudei tall.

It has been asserted that the fish found.in this
loch feed upon small shells. Possibly this may
have arisen from its name, which, as before stated,
means " Shelly Loch." If there have been shells
in it, it must have been a long time ago, possibly
during the earlier part of the post-tertiary age, as
there is not the slightest trace of shells in the loch
now. This is testified by the contents of the
stomachs of the fish, four of which I have carefully
examined, and found to contain the larvse of insects,
flies, and several small fresh-water beetles. In
some of the stomachs were flies, larvse,.&c., all more

86

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

or less mixed with fragments of vegetable matter ;
the only form of the latter distinguishable was an
alga, Bulbochceta setlgem. The trout of this loch
differ from the fish found ia other lochs iu Islay, in
the form of their heads and caudal iins. In other
respects they possess the usual characteristics of
loch trout. In colour they are yellowish-brown,
with red and dark brown spots iaterspersed over
the body and dorsal fins. The ventrals and anals
are formed as in other trout, and are perfect to the
apex, the rays tapering off to the most delicate
film. The pectorals are in no way eroded or effaced.
The caudal fins, however, are not bifurcated, but
are all more or less rounded. Some varieties are
acuminate in the centre (fig. 60), the rays mea-
suring only I- of an inch from thek base to the
apex. The variety whose caudal fins are rounded
(fig. 61), terminate more abruptly than the acumi-
nate form, and are covered at the apex with
a thick succulent skin. Some naturalists have
suggested the possibility of friction having pro-
duced these abnormal forms of the 'caudal fins.
This opinion I cannot for a moment entertain, for,
if friction had produced it, we should expect that
the rays of the pectoral, ventral, and anal fins
would aJl be more or less worn as well. This, how-
ever, in no instance have I found ; all are perfectly
preserved, and, as before stated, are seen tapering
to the most delicate point. Further, if friction
was the cause, we should naturally expect to find
similar forms in some of the lochs iu the innnediate
neighbourhood. This, however, has in no instance
been done. Mr. McKinzie, a keen sportsman, has
fished the lochs in this part of the island for thirty
years,' and has in no instance found a single fish
formed like those found in this particular loch.
During that time he has never found a single fish
in Loch-Na-Maorichen whose caudal fius were not
of this abnormal shape. This variety being restricted
to this particular loch, and the physical conditions
being similar to some of the other lochs in the
district, I cannot «ee how friction could be the
producing cause. These fish difler also in the form
of the head, which is shorter, and more especially in
the proportion from the orbits to the point of the
snout, which is more obtuse than in the ordinary
trout. It more resembles the buU-irout, and seems
to form "an interesting variety of Salmo erio.r, or
" bull-trout," I would suggest as a fitting name for
this variety, Salmo Islayensis. I leave to others the
interesting task of accounting for the origin of such
a distinct variety of fisii, whose abnormally-marked
variations must be advantageous, or it could not
have excluded the ordinary form, and maintained
possession of this isolated sheet of water.

" Humboldt relates, that on the banks of the
Orinoco he saw a parroquet a hundred years old,
which spoke in an unknown and extinct tongue."

B A T S.

TN " G. M. M.'s " notes on these interesting
-*- little mammals on page 18, he says, " Who can
tell where they hide themselves during the day and
throughout the winter ? " Both of these questions
I can readily answer. During the puUing-dowu of
part of these premises several years back, many bats
were found hid away in all sorts of holes and cran-
nies. Bats also retire after their nocturnal flights
to chimneys, old masonry, caves, and hollow trees.
The eaves of large buildings are also a favourite ren-
dezvous for all kinds of bats. In an old work on
quadrupeds I have at my elbow, mention is made
of a bat-hunt during three successive days under
the eaves of Queen's College, Cambridge. The first
day one hundred and eighty. five were taken, the
second sixty-three, and the third two. They were
all of the high-flying species known as the Noctule
or Great Bat (Nodulina ultivolans), and each
measured fifteen inches iu extent of wing. Have
any readers of Science-Gossip noticed with what
adroitness a caged bat will make its escape through
any couveuient crevice, and how easily it manages to
squeeze itself through almost impossible apertures ?
Last September, when about retiring to rest, word
was brought me that one of these ghostly creatures
had taken possession of a bedroom intended for a
coupleof individuals higherinthe scale of beings than
the intruder ; and would I kindly assist in return-
ing the latter to the "realms of air"? I went, and
there sure enough was the terrible, hobgobliu-like
creature flitting round the room like a departed spirit,
and flapping its leathern wings in appalling proximity
to the four-poster. What was to be done ? It was
highly absurd to think of occupying the room while
this dreadful "spectre was flapping its ghostly wings
above the bed. Various likely and unlikely means
of induciug the creature to make its exit were tried,
but all with the same success, — that is, none. At
length the fertile imagination of the humble penner
of these lines suggested an attempt to net him with
his companion in many a long entomological ramble
— to wit, a butterfly-net. The net was brought,
adjusted on the stick, and a valiant charge made at
the ill-omened intruder. After spinning round and
round like a teetotum for some time, and making vain
dives at the apparition, a dexterous turn uf the
wrist brought the opening of the net in a line with
Plecotus communis, and the game was triumphantly
bagged. I put my member of the cheiroptera into
an old birdcage, stuffed up every likely means of
egress, and left it for the night. I went early next
morning to look at my prisoner ; but he had/' broke
the jug" a la Jack Shcppard, and skedaddled no
one knows where, for 1 have never popped eyes on
my midnight visitor since. He must have squeezed
himself through wires not half an inch apart.
Several others of my bat-pets have evaporated iu

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

8/

the same mysterious mannei*. The Bat in frosty
weather remains at home and hybernates till a
milder temperature prevails. Some years back I
foimd a Long- eared Bat {Plecotus communis) hyber-
uating in the cellar of this house in winter. His
membranous wings were closely folded round his
body, his beautiful semi-transparent ears nicely
tucked away, and his little bead-like eyes wrapped
in profound sleep. It was rather puzzling to me
how the little fellow could snooze away so soundly
situated as he was, for his head hung where one
would be apt to look for his tail under ordinary
circumstances. His dreams— if bats dream at all —
must have been full of surprising adventures in such
a night-marish and apoplectic position. To sleep
with the head downwards is, however, as natural to
the Bat as a horizontal posture is to us. The Bat
is but a partial hybcrnator, and only disappears in
frosty weather. Every mild evening during the
present winter the Bat has been flitting about in
front of this house in quest of the few gnats and
other small insects which gambol about iu winter.
Occasionally he is imprudent enough to venture out
in frosty weather, and then he often pays dearly for
his temerity. I once had a bat brought me which
had ventured forth from its retreat one sharp frosty
night, and had been picked up more dead than alive.
It is probable that it had chosen too warm a nook for
its retreat, which, unaffected by tlie weather, had
caused the little animal to imagine that a similar
genial temperature was prevailing without. After
feeling the warmth of the iire for a short time, it
revived and flew round and round the room, and
when tired suspended itself head-downwards from
a flowerpot. William Henby Warner.

Kingston, Abingdon.

MICROSCOPY.

Paste Eels. — ^My directions for procuring paste
eels ought perhaps to have concluded, after the
manner of old-fashioned recipes, with probatnm est.
The directions are according to those I received
from that veteran microscopist Pritchard, the
author of the "Infusoria, &c." Is Mr. Nicholson
quite satisfied that spontaneous generation is a
fallacy, and that the experiments of Dr. Bastian and
others prove the contrary ? Has Mr. Nicholson
ever made any experiments with various infusions,
or has he ever found the " eels " in what is called
" mothery " vinegar, or the fungoid growths on
paste or preserves, or the mycelium developed in
distilled water, even when kept in closely-stopped
bottles, or a similar growth in the inferior surfaces
of dry moulded slides ? Does Mr. Nicholson
seriously say these forms would not have appeared
if the spores or germs had not been placed there
intentionally ? I must, however, ask him where he

finds in my note any assertion that these eels are
spontaneously generated ? I only stated that these
forms would be found in paste, if certain directions
were followed. I am inclined to imagine that they*
like Bacteria, Vibriones, and moulds, are pro-
duced from germs floating in the air or existing
previously in the flour. Possibly the Anguillula
glutinis is the same as A. tritici, although it is stated
that the former is more energetic than A. tritici.
Dr. Carpenter states that paste eels frequently
make tfieir appearance spontaneously in the midst
of paste that is turning sour, in other words, when
acetous fermentation has commenced. This would
lead to the inference that A. aceti was also identical
with A. tritici and A. glutinis. Perhaps Mr.
Nicholson will favour the readers of Science-
Gossip with liis method of obtaining a supply of
anguillulse without first putting them into the paste.
I suppose he is not prepared to assert that portions
of paste containing these forms have been succes-
sively handed down by the discoverer from one
observer to another — in fact a kind of apostolic
succession. — F. K.

Ox THE Mobility of Spines on Certain
Insects' Eggs. — In a paper by Mr. H. Davies
E.R.M.S., communicated to the Quekett Club,
the author states his observations on the spinous
processes found on the eggs of certain parasites,
particularly those of the black-quilled Peacock and
the Mallee-bird. He observed on the former, that
the curved petaloid spines rapidly uncurl, straighten
and contract on the lid when the eg^ is placed
under water! They remain thus closed until the
QgS becomes dry by evaporation, when the spines
loosen, then gradually and gracefully recurve until
the egg assumes its flower-like form. A group of
these eggs in drying makes a pretty sight in the
microscope. The author suggests the proba-
bility that the spines contract over the lid in wet
weather, and thus restrain the hatching of even
mature eggs until the weather is more favourable.

Sections OF Coal.— Mr. J.Slade (in Proceedings
of the Quekett Club) gives the following directions
for the preparation of sections of this material :—
A piece of coal being selected, a surface is at first
obtained roughly by a file or a piece of sandstone,
then a finer by means of a hone or a piece of fine glass-
paper, then a still finer by means of pumice-stone,
and, after rubbing upon Arkansas stone, finally
brought to the highest polish possible by friction
upon plate glass. If the coal be very friable (which
it sometime s is), it will be necessary to macerate the
specimen m thin lac varuish, and dry it, before the
whole process can be accomplished. In order to
secure success, it is impossible to bestow too much
pains in this preliminary operation. Having made
a good surface, next cement it to a glass slip by

88

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

marine glue. The marine glue requires careful
selectionj as the glue usually sold contains particles
of the . undissolved materials, which are visible
under the microscope. However, having obtained
the right sort, cut thin slices, lay them upon the
glass and meltover a flame ; when thoroughly melted,
drop the specimen (the polished surface being down-
wards) into it, aud press out the air-bubbles. When
the air-bubbles appear between the glass and the
polished surface, they must be got rid of, otherwise
it is useless to proceed ; for long before the spe-
cimen is thin enough to show structure, the coal
over the air-bubble comes away, leaving a hole.
If they be not present, the preparation may be
proceeded with, first reducing it on sandstone, and
then finishing it with pumice-stone; and after
scraping away the superfluous marine glue, mounting
in Canada balsam aud covering in tiic usual way. As
the grinding goes on, it must be frequently examined
under the microscope. The first to appear will be the
spore-cases, aud a careful coutiuuancc of the grinding
will finally render the spores visible. Spores and
spore-eases are to be found in every successful pre-
paration of coal ; but their relative proportions aud
degrees of preiCrvation vary considerably; thus
Wigaa cannel almost entirely consists of spores, very
fewspore-eases'; Bradford coal, spores and spore-cases
iu nearly equal proportions ; Silkstone coal, spore-
cases few and much compressed, spores in abundance ;
Moira coal, Leicestershire, spore-cases beautifully
preserved, and in some spores in situ ; while coal
of Australia consists almost entirely of spore-cases.
[The impurities in the marine glue may be separated
from it by t}ing it in a piece of linen or flannel,
immersing it in hot water, and squeezing it vv'ith a
piece of wood.] — F. K.

A Hint to Microscopists.— I would suggest
to those who are seeking entomological objects,
that the empty pupa-ca^es of butterflies and moths
would be found to furnish some nice slides. Small
portions of the envelopes which encase the an-
tennae and legs could be exhibited iu their entire
state; of the shell which wmps over the wings
and body, sections might be mounted as opaque
objects, or, in many instances, I should think, thin
slices would be found to be transparent. But the
student niust not suppose, should he chance to
find one of the pupaj or clirysalids wiiieh are be-
spangled with metallic markings, that when tlie
insect within has emerged he will get a splendid
slide therefrom, for these disappear when tiie case
has lost its tenant. — /. B. S. C.

"In the presence of the Alps, no worldly autho-
rity can preserve its lying prestige ; the only sove-
reignty which there exists is that of reason, truth,
aud eonscieuce." — " T/ie Mountain," //-om the Frencli
of MicJicltt.

ZOOLOGY.

Blind EisHES. — In the Eebruary number of the
American Naturalist, Professor Putnam adds an
important fact to his interesting paper on the above
subject, obtained from Dr. Hartriug. He states
that a specimen of one of the blind fish, Typhlichthys,
was placed in a jar of spirits, when shortly after-
wards eight young fish were observed. Their birl h
was due to the sudden immersion in alcohol.
When these young flbh were examined with a
magnifyiug-glass, they were seen to be totally de-
prived of eyes ! It will be rcmem.bered that in the
adult state these fish had their eyes aborted.

Parasite on Pieuis Baf^ (the small Cab-
rage BuTTERrLx) IN CANADA.* — The uews of the
appearance of a;i effective parasite on P. Uapa will,
we doubt not, be hailed with delight by our Lower
Canadian friends and the gardeners of the North-
Eastern States. Mr. P. S. Sprague, of Boston,
Massachusetts, has kindly sent us several specimens
of both sexes of this new arrival, respecting which
he writes as follows :— " The F. Rapce chrysalis
parasite proves, on exami'iation by Dr. Packard, to
be the introduced Flcroijialus piiparum. My son
gathered about fifty of tlie chrysalids, every one of
which was infested, as many as forty specimens
coming from a single one. The female walks over
the chrysalis, feeling with her anteuncefora suitable
place to insert her ovipositor, aud when found,
drills a hole, wdiich takes upon an average one
minute in tiu:e." The following excellent com-
munication by Mr. Sprague's son, who bids fair to
become an eminent entomologist, we copy from
the Rural New Yorker. " A new Enemy to the
Cabbage-worm : — Although I am a little boy,
I think I can write something which will please the
old folks. Almost everybody who raises cabbages
has had a great many destroyed this year by a little
green caterpillar, and I suppose they have seen a
new white butterfly, called the Pieris Bapa, flying
round them. This butterfly lays a little white egg
on the leaves, which iu a few days hatches out a
little green caterpillar, which eats until it grows
about an inch in length ; then it goes aud hunts up
some sheltered place where it can go into a chrysalis.
I was looking for some chrysalids for my father,
flhen I saw a little fly walking all over them ; by-
aud-by it made a little hole in the chrysalis to lay
its eggs iu. Tliis fly is almost one eighth of an inch
long ; it is of a golden colour. Some of the flies
have yellow legs and others have dark onts; they
have four wings ; the body is pointed at the end :
there are about fifty of these flics in a chrysalis.
The chrysalis looks as if it were all right ; but if you

* This peet was introduced into Canada from Europe a few
years ago, and has multiplied so rapidly as to have become
already a source of serious uneasiness. — En. S.-G.

HARDVYICKE'S SCIEN C E. GOSSIP.

80

break it open, you will find it full of little grubs.
Tliis little fly kills so many of the clirysalids that
in a few years the butterflies will not bo so common,
and cabbages will not be destroyed.—//. IF. S.,
Boston, 3Iass." From the " Canadian Entomologist,^
December, 1871.

Deep-sea Dredging.— Professor Agassiz has
addressed a letter to a friend on this interesting
subject, in which he recapitulates the various forms
of organic life which may be expected to be dis-
covered still living in the deeper and still unexplored
parts of the sea-bottom. The principles upon whicii
he bases his prognostications are that there is a
correlation between the grades of animals in the
complication of their structure, their order of suc-
cession in geological times, their mode of develop-
ment from the egg, and their geographical distri-
bution upon the surface of the globe.

The Tapir.— The British Museum has received
a series of specimens, of different ages, of Tapinis
villosKS, from the Cordilleras of Ecuador. The adult
male is black, closely covered with rather short hair ;
the young is covered with abundance of longer hairs.
The young is also marked with broad grey streaks,
more or less confluent, or united into short grey
lines. The nasal bone of the adult is elongate.

TV'iiY Butterflies and Moths are scarce
AFTER A damp WINTER. — The circumstance that a
cold and dry winter is more favourable to tlie
development of lepidopterous insects than a mild
and wet one has been variously explained ; and
there is no doubt that several causes are concerned
in it. The effects of excessive moisture upon
pupse, it has been already noted, are decidedly un-
favourable, and kill many which would defy severe
frost and its accompanying dryness. Mildness in
the winter season is harmful to a certain portion
of the hibernating caterpillars. It is tiie general
habit of some of these to feed through the winter
at intervals, and others remain almost invariably
quiescent, waiting for the development of vegetable
life in spring. These latter are roused from their
torpor by an unseasonable geniulity. They seem to
require food, but, in some cases, there is none to be
had appropriate for them ; and they often die from
inanition, or are killed by some change of the
weather. Eggs also, which should remain un-
hatched until March and April supplied the leaves
needed by the larva;, are developed into life in
Eebruary, or even in January, and tlie result is
necessarily the death of the particular breeds. So
that, looking at the matter from a hoitieultural
point of view, the gardener, if he grumbles for
some reasons at a wet and mild winter, has also
reason for satisfaction thereat, in the probable
diminution of the number of caterpillars which will
annoy him in the following summer. — /. It. S. C.

BOTANY.

Insect Fertilization. — A whole acre of mig-
nonette would not emit more perfume than a single
plant of the Fan Palm of the Rio Negro {Mauritia
carard). In approaching one of these plants througli
the thick forest, the sense of hearing would, per-
haps, give the first notice of its proximity, from
the merry hum of winged insects which its scented
flowers had drawn together to feast on the honey,
and to transport tlie pollen of the male to the female
plants ; for it is chiefly dioecious species of palms
that have such sweet flowers. The absence of
odoriferous flowers from the grasses seems to show
that insect aid is not needed for effecting their
fecundation, but does not render its accidental con-
currence a whit less unlikely. If the flowers of the
grasses be sometimes fertilized in the bud, it is
probably exceptional, like the similar cases re-
corded of orchids, and many other families. — A.
Spruce.

Peculiarities in the Dock. — Being an ardent
lover of wild flowers, and something of a botanist,
I venture to think that a few details of my botanical
experience may not prove uninteresting to your
readers. During the last two summers I have given
my attention to a group of plants which I had
hitherto entirely disregarded as too uninteresting
to be worth more than a glance ; but as I had set
myself the task of making coloured drawings of all
the wild flowers I could meet wiih, and having
transferred to the pages of my book of " Wild
Flowers '"' ail the more attractive flowers in my
neighbourhood, I could no longer neglect this
hitherto despised tribe, the Dock {Rumex). I there-
fore set to work at them ; but to draw them was
no easy task, and to name them, when drawn, still
harder. The varieties seemed endless, no two speci-
mens appeared exactly alike ; and when I thought
I had decided on the name of a species, I could not
satisfy myself the next day that I was right. When
I mention my difiiculties more specifically, perhaps
those who best deserve the title of botanists will
acknowledge that these diffieulties do exist, and
those who are only students and beginners may find
these diifieulties lessened for them if I relate as
briefly as I can the course and result of my own
observations. When we turn to any botanical wwrk
and look at the descriptions given of any species of
the tribe Bumex, we find that the tubercles on the
petals are a very distinctive feature of the plant ;
but in no botanical work that I am acquainted with
have I found any remark in reference to what stage
of the flowering process the tubercle is developed,
I venture, therefore, to offer my own experience and
observations made on this point. In the early part
of July I found a very fine specimen of one of the
water-docks on the edge of the river Stour, within

90

HAKDWICKE'S SCIfiN CE-GO S S IP.

half a mile of Blaudford, a small town in Dorset-
shire. 1 had never before seen either of the water-
docks, and was uncertain which of them I had found.
There being only tliis one plant— a very fine one, I
was careful to gather only a small piece, and made a
drawing of it : it was then in full bloom ; the anthers,
covered with pollen, were protruding beyond the
petals, which were totally devoid of tubercles. I
visited tlie same plant again about three weeks
later, and not a tubercle was to be seen, but here
and there, on a very few of the petals, was soinethiug
like a brown skin. I took this piece to a friend
who had a powerful microscope. He submitted these
brown-skinned petals to a close investigation, but
could only describe them as an irritation on some
of the petals. Whatever they might be, they were
very rare ou the plant. After a careful examination,
we decided that there were no tubercles, and agreed
that the plant must be Htimex aquaticiis, the Grain-
less Water-dock. I thought this point settled
when, about three or four weeks later I again visited
my dock, what was my surprise to find each petal
bearing a large tubercle, very much raised in ap-
pearance, like white beads tinged with pink, the
whole appearance of the plant being totally altered.
I made a drawing of my dock in its tubercled state
and named it Uumex hydrolapathum, there being now
not the least doubt as to its proper nomenclature.
The point I wish to make evident is the length of
time that had elapsed from tlic first flowering of the
plant to the development of the tubercles, at least
six weeks, which is a difficulty an unexperienced
botanist like myself is totally unprepared for. I
also observed closely R. crispus and R. ohlusifolius,
and found that in both plants the tubercles M'cre
not developed till after the flowering of the plant.
As far as my observations went, I came to the con-
clusion that no tubercles are developed till after the
anthers and pollen have disappeared. I think also
that in many of the species the teeth are not de-
veloped till a late stage of the flowering of the
plant. I shall be glad if any botanists will furnish
me with their experience on this point. Another
difiiculty arises from the discrepancy in the descrip-
tions given by various botanists. Sowerbj', in
"British Wild Flowers," describes R. crispus as
having only one tubercle ; Withering, whose de-
scriptions 1 have generally found the most accurate,
says of the same plant, "petals all bearing a
tubercle." Lindley says, all bearing very large
tubercles. Withering has no R. pratensis at all. —
F. M. K.

New ruNGL— Mr. T. Britton, of Manchester,
who is well known as a botanist, has recently added
two new species to our British flora. One is a
fungus found on the Butter-bur {Petasites vulgaris),
and named Badhamia capsuUferu, B., whicli Mr,
M, C. Cooke has declared to be new to our flora.

The other was,found at Chelford, in Cheshire, during
Christmas week, and is also new. Mr. Phillips, of
Shrewsbury, has identified it as Ferichcena qtcer-
cina, F.

G E 0 LO G Y.

Fossil Horses.— At a recent meeting of the
Californian Academy of Sciences, it was stated by
Professor Marsh, of Yale College, that in the
Miocene and Pliocene deposits of East Oregon a
large number of species of fossil horses had been
discovered. Among them was one only two feet
in height. Others of the two-toed type had also
been collected.

Fossil Fish in Palesiike.— Ou reading a paper
in the January number of ScIenceGossip on
" Sciencs in the Tenth and Twelfth Centuries," 1
was reminded of a passage iu Joinvilie's " Histoire
de Saint Louis " which may prove interesting to
geological readers, as showing the simple childlike
wonder with which fossils were regarded in the
tliirteenth century. While recounting the events
of the Seventh Crusade, which took place in 1248,
the good knight pauses to remark, in his quaint way,
how, "tandis que le roy estoit a Sayette, li apporta
Ten une pierre qui se levoit par escalcs, la plus
merveilleuse du monde ; car quant Ten levoit une
escale, I'en trouvoit entre les deux pierres la forme
d'un poissou dc mer. La pierre estoit le poissou ;
mais il ne failloit riens en sa fourme, ne yex, ne
ariste, ne couleur ne autre chose que il ne feust
autre tel comme s'il feust vif. Le roi mauda une
pierre, et trouva une tanche dedans, de brune
coleur et de tel fagon comme tanche doit estre."—
",\Vhile the king was at Sayette [Sidon] a stone was
brought to him which was formed in layers, the
most wonderful stone in the M^orld, for when a
layer was raised, there was found between the two
stones the form of a sea-fish. The fish was of stone;
but nothing Was M'anting in its form, neither e^es,
nor bones, nor colour, nor any other thing, which
was not just as it would be if it were alive. The
king sent for a sloue, and found a tench wilhiu, of
a brown colour, and of such fashion as a tench
ought to be." I presume that there can be no doubt
that some kind of fossil fish is here alluded to ;
and 1 am curious to know whether there is modern
testimony to prove that fossils of a similar kind are
still to be found in the neighbourhood. — -G. F.
IFarner.

Fossil Hydrozoa (p. G7). — The comparative
rarity of fossil Hydrozoa may be partly due to the
perishable nature of many of the organisms consti-
tuting this class. None of the oceanic Hydrozoa
seem capable of preservation in a fossil state ; but
the Hydroida are well represented in Paheozoic

IIARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

91

rooks, though, if we except the Medusoid im
pression said to have beeu observed by Professor
Agassiz in the Oolitic lithographic slate of Soleu-
hofen, they appear to be absent in rocks of more
recent age. The Athecata, or Tubularian zoophytes,
are represented in a fossil state by the SUurian
genus Conjiioides and the Carboniferous genus
Palceocori/iie, and the Thecaphora, or Sertularians,
by the Silurian genera Dendrograptus and Ftilo-
graptus, and probably, also, Callograpdus and
Dictyonema. Then there are the Ilhabdophora or
Graptolites, an entirely extinct sub-order of the
Hydroida, found exclusively in Silurian rocks, and
consisting of sixteen genera, with nearly ten times
as many species. The Hydrozoa are thus repre-
sented in Palaeozoic rocks by at least twenty genera
and from about ISO to 200 species of hydroid
zoophytes.—/. Uopkinson.

NOTES AND aUERIES.

Dried Plowers.— From what Mrs. Watney
has written to Science-Gossip last mouth, I have
ventured to hope that, with the editor's kind per-
mission, a few words on the subject of an amateur
Hortus siccus may not be unwelcome to some of its
readers. Of course to the botanical student, a
Hortus siccus has au extensive signification, and
brings with it visions of volumes of brown paper,
and large collections of withered plants, and hard
Latin names. Now, to an amateur who has plenty of
leisure, all this might be changed, and knowledge be
gilded over by beauty's magic wand. I think one
of the most charming occupations in which one can
indulge during a summer vacation is the study of
Nature, i have liad some little experience in
preparing jjlants for tiie little cards to which Mrs.
Watney alludes ; and, some six years ago, when
my father had the honour of contributing to the
pages of Science-Gossip, we had several elegant
wreaths and bouquets of wild and exotic llowers on
card-board. The modus operandi of preparing the
blooms, leaves, &c., is simple enough, care and
attention only being required as to the time of
gathering them, and the delicate manipulation
whilst preparing and fixing them on the cards.
Whilst visiting the Ciiannel Islands, some of our
most richly-coloured and handsome wreaths were
made, but nothing, in my idea, could rival the
spring blossoms and wild fiowers found near our
Dorset home, in the lanes and on the downs. One
collection of single violets, purple aud white, inter-
mixed with feather mosses {llypiuim trichomanoides
and H. rufescens), with a few violet-leaves, and a
frond or two of fern, was a particular favourite of
mine : they were gathered and mounted in 1859,
and for years kept their freshness and colour. The
best time for plucking the blooms, leaves, aud
especially ferns, is when they are ripe, i.e. in their
prime. Immature petals and leaves are apt to
droop and fade before there is time to bring them
home and press them. Bright, warm, dry days
are the best to select for botanic excursions.
Having collected the quantity and variety required
lor a wreath or bouquet, whilst they are yet fresh,
take some good pink blotting-paper, fold it to the
size of an ordinarily large book, place the flowers

carefully between the leaves, so that the blooms
may be kept in as perfect a form as possible. Take
for an example the simple little primrose ; separate
the bloom from the stalk, and, on laying it down
on the paper, the amateur will find some little
trouble in fixing it for pressing so as to preserve
the symmetry of the flower. Having arranged the
subjects at proper distances, place the blotting-
paper under some large books, and put heavy
weights upon it. Should the collection not be
made all at once^ the leaves and blooms will keep
in this way well ior a month or so, and they should
be exposed as little as possible to the light till
mouuted. A week or ten days will suflice in an
ordinary way to press the subjects. When they
are sufliciently dry for mounting, select some white
Bristol board, arrange the design intended to be
formed, then fix them to the card-board with liquid
gum. The same instruments may be used as in
mounting seaweeds for the smaller and more
delicate blooms. When completely grouped, place
them again under pressure, and leave until quite
dry ; then take out the card-board, and varnish or
not. Any one who may take the trouble to form
one of these very lovely natural pictures, will be
more than repaid for the time expended in prepar-
ing it. Would not an album (say like a photographic
alburn) filled with little cards tastily arranged with
specimens of local floras, mouuted in the way 1
have now described, be a pleasant and pretty sou-
venir of summer holidays, liavmg the Latin names,
and the locality the specimens were found in,
together with the date, inscribed on the back of the
card, or on the margin? 1 see some of the cor-
respondents to Science-Gossip are writing on the
subject of Poisoning Dried Plants. I have now a
collection of plants gathered by ray father whilst a
student at the Edinburgh University in 1S39, and
they were simply pressed and kept between coarse
blue paper.— i/arZii^ra Wallace iyfe, Nottingham.

Glowworms.— Mr. T. Buck, Chelmsford, wishes
to know how to catch male, glowworms. Let him
put a lamp or candle in au open window when the
females are shining, and he will have as many as
are about. — 6'. Kingsley.

Glowworms. — I think if your correspondent
Mr. Buck will go with a lighted lamp or lantern,
some warm dark night in June or July, into the
woods or lanes where the glowworms abound, he
will have no difficulty in getting males. 1 used to
find them a nuisance rather than otherwise when
" sugaring" in the woods in the South of England.
They flew in my face, settled on my coat-collar,
waistcoat, aud whiskers, and were especially fond
of perching oa the edge of the rim of my liat. —

Male Glow^vorms (page 68).— In reply to Mr.
Buck, I may state that the male beetles are not to
be found during the day, nor so readily at the
evening dusk, as are the temales. When the night
is further advanced, however, they fly abroad
briskly, and as the pages of various magazines
testify, have frequently been mistaken for fire-flies.
In and about woods are favourite resorts, aud they
have been noticed dashing to and fro near the lan-
terns carried by entomologists engaged in moth-
huntiug. Kegarding the longevity of ihe insect
in confinement, 1 may add that 1 am aware of one
instance where some females were brought into
a house aud allowed to wander away. All disap-

92

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

peared but one, and that turned up some five or six
months after, alive and luminous, in some odd
corner, very mucli to the surprise of the iumates.
How it had kept itself alive no one could tell. —
/. B. S. C.

Chameleons. — These reptiles, being the natives
of very warm climates, require a vast amount of
care when brought over 1o England, and it is but
rarely that we hear of a pet chameleon living for
any length of time in confinement, simply because
their quarters are not sufiiciently heated. The tem-
perature of an ordinary gieen-house would most
decidedly be too cold : a sfovehouse would be
better. A friend of mine made pets of two chame-
leons soon after her arrival in Ceylon, and she
described them as most pugnacious in their conduct
to each other, though perfectly harmless and gentle
as indoor residents. They used to fight, and when
engaged in battle, the ludicrous way in which they
slowly opened and shut their jaws invariably made
her aunt, an old lady, "yawn." They were both
male reptiles, so she gave one of them his liberty,
put him up a tree, and procured from a native ser-
vant a lady chameleon, who, in a short time, laid
some eggs in a little heap of sand at the bottom of
the large wire inclosure, which Miss E. had confined
tliem in. The eggs never hatched, the heat of the
sun not being sufficiently powerful on that spot ; for
in a wild state chameleons always deposit their
eggs, and leave them to be matured by the warmth
of the sun. If your correspondent Miss Eyfe were
to write to ''Mr. Prank Bnckland," she would
probably obtain from that gentleman full informa-
tion as to how they are treated in the Zoological
Gardens. 1 have been told that they give them
meal-worms, a food much relished by them, and
that they sprinkle the plants in their case with
water daily, because chameleons never drink water
from any vessel, and therefore it, is found requi-
site to supply them Mith liquid in a like way to
what they obtain it in thrir native forests. — Helen
E. Watney.

The Chameleon.— Many of your readers will
doubtless be interested in hearing that one of these
curious animals has recently been found at Maid-
stone. My authority, after speaking of a poetical
allusion to its "triple claw," snys:— "The triple
claw is correct enough ; it appears to be but triple.
"When the claw, however, is distended, no fewer
than five extremely minute talons, like those of a
kitten, are developed, and by these a firm hold
of even a considerable-sized branch is obtained.
By placing the two wrists together as a man docs
when he is manacled, then throwing both hands
open as widely as possible, you see the shape of
each foot; and, by imagining the talons spoken of
to be at the ends of tiie fingers, an idea may be
formed of the great holding-on power the Chame-
leon possesses. The eye is extremely difficult to
describe fully. It is sunk in a conical tube or
leceptacle, evidently to protect it: this tube
revolves in any direction with the ball of the eye,
so that, although the latter is remote, no obstacle
is prescn!ed to the vision. The eye is very small,
but brilliant in the extreme, somcMhat like that of
a toad, but not a quarter of the size. A 'hood,'
apparently, but which is not movable, covers the
neck. The back is arched, and very thin all along
the top. The inside of the mouth is a bright red.
AVhen inhaling the atmosphere, and viewed through
a glass, the whole body of the animal appears

rugged like the bark of a tree, and s^e/Mike to the
touch. The length of the body is about six or
seven inches." The animal was very slow in its
movements. Its colour was invariably black or
dark at night ; it appeared white on one occasion,
but green or yellow seemed to be its favourite
colour. It slept suspended by its tail, and was
capable of elongating its body at pleasure. It
lived about a mouth after its capture, and died
during the cold weather. My authority considers
that it was imported from Spain among some
Esparto grass, an article frequently deposited on a
wharf adjoining a garden in which the chameleon
I M'as found. — /. S., Jun.

\ What does Gkyllus viridissiml's eat ?— Eor
the information of " K. A. M.," I might state that it
is strongly suspected, tlumgh not absolutely proved,
that this species is occasionally carnivorous ; and
should this be so, its food would probably be
aphides, and other small fry of that cliaracter.
From the apple supplied to the specimen watched
by ''E. A. M." small insects or other living creatures
may have been got. Buds of different trees and
plants are doubtless resorted to for food by this
" most green " and very lively gentleman, whom it is
much easier to hear than to see or catch. The
eggs are deposited in the ground during the summer
or autumn, but the femnles are said to select for
the purpose a sandy or friable soil, and the captive
insect was probably dissatisfied v.ith the earth
which was within its reach ; or its reluctance to
oviposit may have arisen from the circumstance
that it was not impregnated. — /. R. S. C.

Ichthyosaurus. —In your February number you
refer to a notice in the Standarcl as to an ielithyo-
saurus said to have been recently found at Char-
mouth, with foetal young in situ. Do you know if
this specimen has been examined by any competent
authority — if so, by whom ? Further, would you
kindly say where specimens with foetus in situ, upon
which you found your closing remarks, may be seen ?
Your reply to these queries will, I am sure,be of in-
terest to many of your readers. — G. Potter.

\_ We do not know if the identical specimen re-
ferred to has been examined. But specimens arc
not rare showing the position of the foetal young.
For proofs as to the viviparous nature of the
Ichthjoumri, see Owen's " Palaeontology," Page's
" Handbook," &c.— Ed. S.-G.]

Piiyllactidium ruLciiELLUM {ante, p. 47 ;
Science-Gossip, IS67, p. 178).— I found many
specimens of this phint in 1870 on leaves o'f
Anaeharis taken out of a small stream near Win-
chester.- i\ /. Warner.

Stag Beetle. — If G. Guyon had used his finger
instead of a stick, he might perhaps have felt the
etfccts of a pinch from the long mandibles of the
Stag Beetle. If, when they are flying, they should be
stopped, or if they are irritated in any other way,
they will generally grasp anything which is placed
near them. I know a m:in who allow'cd one to take
held of his finger, which caused it to bleed con-
siderably.— A. E.

Poisoning Dried Plants.-;- Your correspondent
J. T. Mott asks whether it is necessary to wash
plants with corrosive sublimate to preserve them
trom insects. 1 am of opinion that it is necessary,
as I have seen specimens not done so, completely
eaten into holes. 1 have a considerable number of

RARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

d)

spncimens myself, and have 'washed tlicm all, and
fiud no inconvenience from the ravages of insects.
I also think with Mr. Mott that a close box is a
great help to preserve them.— T. B. Bloic, WeUvyn,
Herts.

Alt; AD A abbohea.— In reply fo ]\Tr. TTarner, I
beg to say he is quite right in correcting the
scientific name given by me to the Tree Pipit.
The mistake occurred partly throngh carelessness
and partly from my dislike to the term Anthts
bein? used to designate any of the Lark tribe ; for,
why have a word so indefinite as to be applicable
to 'any small bird, when we have such a capital
generic appellative as Alauda ? In answer to \lx.
Kingsley, I would state that my present observa-
tion enables me to distinguish four kinds of larks
in this neighbourhood— Skylark, Wood-lark, Tit-
lark, and Tree Pipit. The first three reside with
us all the year round, the last is a bird of passage ;
and, as I said in my note, " the song and flight are
so peculiar, that it will be impossible to mistake it
for any other." Doubtless there are other varieties
of larks in our beautiful fields and woods ; bnt, as
I never shoot for purposes of verification, and have
acquired my experience of the songs of birds from
living specimens kept in ' confinement, or the in-
struction of friends during happy rambles over hill
and dale, I do feel certain of knowledge gained in
such a practical manner ; and I do not hesitate to
assure Mr. Kingsley he will no longer find any
diflacnlty in distinguishing the Tree Pipit from the
Wood-lark, if, next May and June, he lie about on
fine sunny days in the hay fields, and watch tjie
skv-rocket ascent and fluttering descent of this de-
lightful bird. I thank Mr. Kingsley for his kind
courtesy in giving me credit for an observation
which i am sorry to say I have never made, that
the Alauda arborea (or Tree-lark, as he calls it)
sings at night. I most fervently hope that such is
the case in Hampshire, where he lives, for 1 am
not, quite sure whether I do not prefer Wood-krk
to Skylark music ; and, in wishing him the enjoy-
ment of its mellow strains by night as well as by
day, I can fancy no sweeter lullaby.— /o^e;?/? Drew.

The Lesseu Pettychap. — Mr. Westropp sends
us the notice of the very enrly appearance (the 9th
March) of the Lesser Pettychap {Sijlvia Jdppolais),
which may • interest some of our ornithological
readers.

Sta-KLTiigs. — Do starlings usually remain with us
during the whole winter? as those which have lived
on my house for the last three or four years have
never left us at all this winter, but have been seen
and heard on the Vicarage roof and cliimneys every
fine, or even fair dav. What does their winter food
consist of ?— fi". 0. 'S., Gateshead.

Wood-Pigeons. —What is the general food of
wood-pigeons, especially in the winter? They
are accused of eating corn. &c. ; but we had some
this week (purchased on Feb. 16, from Scotland) ;
the crops of three were quite full of turnip-tops,
one of turnip-tops and clover, and one of clover
only; and the birds in very good condition. Is
such food usual ?— iT. 0. S., Gateshead.

The "JjVTEk" (p. 69). — It is unfortunate for
Mr. Joynson's theory that the bulk of his examples
are Saxon : ex. gr., Ormskirk, Runcorn, Wallasea.
Since it is to the Saxon we must look for the true
derivation of "Lither," Litherlaud I understand

to mean the district since re-christened as "Water-
loo." It is in Sefton or Sephton parish {ton, A.-S.),
near Seaforth (true A.-S.), Crosby [by is Scandina-
vian), Aintrec, Netherton, and Thornton, both pure
Saxon. Premising that the word " pool" was com-
mon to both Saxon and \Velsh, I may just remark
on tlie inconsistency of joining Gtelic and Welsh to
produce a compound : it may not be impossible, but
it is unusual. I do not find " pool " in Geelic, while
the Welsh "LI" would produce a different sound
from the "L " in Litherpool. In Anglo-Saxon we
have several forms of the root Lide ; bnt our best
illustrations may be drawn from the lowland Scot-
tish. Jamieson quotes: Lithe, adj., "calm,
sheltered." Lytbe, verb and noun, and Lither, adj.,
as "lazy, sleepy;" Lithi3 is comfortable. Much
stress. has been laid on the word lither as " landing-
place ; " but it is far preferable to take it as indi-
cating the sheltered pool at the Mersey side. Mersey
is pure Saxon. — A. Hall.

White Varieties (p. 45). — White varieties of
many plants may be only occasionally seen,
appearing under certain conditions, and lasting only
so long as these conditions prevail, while in other
cases these varieties seem to be permanent ; but I
believe that all varieties, whether natural or brought
about by artificial means, tend to return to their
normal state. Last autumn but one, while stay-
ing at Ardlethen, Aberdeenshire, I noticed some
plants of the Harebell Campanula (C. rotmidifolia)
with some flowers perfectly white, while others, on
the same plants, had a tinge of blue ; but last
autumn, on the same spot, not a white flower was
to be seen — all were blue. The plants were growing
at the edge of a narrow band of Silurian limestone,
the adjoining rocks being gneiss and granite. — John
Hopkinson.

Geological Guide to Sicily (p. 70).-;-Should
" a Subscriber " not meet with a suitable guide-book
to Etna, he may perhaps find the required informa-
tion in the following works : — Eerrara, " Descriz-
ione dell' Etna ; " Palermo, 1818 ; Hoffmann,
"Geognost. Beobachtungen," Berlin, 1839; Lyell,
"Principles of Geology ; " Scrope, " On Volcanoes."
The following papers in the Quarterly Journal of
the Geological Society may also be consulted : —
Abich,"On some points in the History and Formation
of Etna," vol. xv. p. 117; Gemellaro, "On the
Gradual Elevation of the Coast of Sicily," vol. xiv.
p. 501, and " On the Volcanic Cones of Palermo and
Motta, Etna," vol. xviii. p. I^.—Johi Hopkinson.

Gold-fish. — Having a large number of gold-fish,
I gave some of them to a friend. Soon after he had
received them, he told me he had seen some little
ones in the globe with the others, but that the
large ones ate them as soon as they appeared. A
few days after he saw the above, he saw some
spawn in the globe, and some m.ore of the small
ones appeared: these he has taken out. I shall
feel obliged if you, or any of your readers, can tell
me if this is a common occurrence, and if there is
any way of rearing these small fish. — Tom V. Bevey,
Wolsingham.

Abnormal Cerastitjm (pp. 259, 279, 1571).— 1
was, in all probability, wrong in referring this
curious specimen to Arenaria, though I did not
speak very positively about it. I and others have
again examined specimens, and the evidence seems
to be in favour of its being a Cerastium.— Robert
Holla nd.

94

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

The English House-fly in New Zealand.—
One lar^e blue- bottle fly is a terrible torment in
New Zealand. Not only does he "fly-blow" the
meat, but he lays his eggs in the blankets also,
with the usual unpleasant results, if tbey are not
at once got rid of. But the house-fly was, until
lately, unknown. The folio -.vhig history was told
to me by a friend lately returned from Christ-
church, New Zealand, where he had worked for the
last six years. A few years ago it occurred to a
resident in New Zealand that if the common house-
fly could be introduced from England it would
assist in exterminating the blue-bottle. Accord-
ingly, when the time came for him to take a holiday
to the old country, he did not forget to collect flies
just before his return. He kept them in a box
during the voyage, and fed them with bread and bits
of sugar, and not many lives were lost. The party
arrived at an accommodation-house on the Hakaia
river, and here the caution of our naturalist appears
to have deserted him. He opened his box either
to feed or display his flies, and through some inad-
vertence the whole of them escaped. But the
experiment was not without some results. My
friend and informant came to England a few months
ago, and he says that the common house-fly is
thoroughly domesticated in New Zealand, but with
what result with regard to the blue-bottles he is
unable to state, more than that where the flies are
numerous the blue-bottles are certainly scarce.
Does this account of the introduction of house-
flies appear true? I relate it as it was told to me,
but it:.seems to me unlikely that the flies would
have lived through the voyage. Have any of your
correspondents heard the flies accounted for before,
or this story in any other form ? — M. A. D.

^The Ermine in North Wales.— What does
"W. P." in last month's Science-Gossip mean
by saying that the Ermine is rare in North Wales,
but the" Stoat, Weasel, &c., are common enough " ?
Of course he is not ignorant of the fact that the
Ermine {Mustela Erminea) is simply the Stoat in
its winter coat. I have lately seen a specimen
of the Erminea which was killed before it had
completed its transformation; the lower half of
its body is white and the upper brown. I should
like to know the meaning of " W. P.'s " communi-
cation, as it would be a curious fact if most of
the stoats die before assuming their winter dress. —
W. W.

Variety of the Tufted Duck.— I should be
glad if " P. P." would kindly favour us with a
more minute description, of the plumage of the
duck he mentions in the February number, also
the colour of the iris, the legs and feet, when
fresh, and the extent of the bulf colour upon the
lower part of the breast. Does it blend with the
dark colour of the lower neck, or is the band
across the chest well defined, and of the usual
colour? I should also like to know if any of the
buff colour extends to the sides and vent-feathers.
—~T. Southwell.

Why do Caterpillars weave Webs? — The

author of a paper in last month's issue of Science-
Gossip, on the "Web- weaving Caterpillars," invites
observers to offer their opinions on tiie reasons why
some lepidopterous larvaj are endued with this
habit, it is not easy to give a satisfactory answer
which will meet all cases. One thing would strike
us as notable at the outset ; namely, tliat a very
Jarge number — the majority in fact— of those which

spin webs or form nests are hairy caterpillars, and
therefore, as a consequence, the less in need of
any protection of their own making to screen them
from birds ; for I presume, in the caterpillar-hunt-
ing species, it will be found, as a rule, that they
prefer smooth-skinned to hairy individuals when
they can get them. And again, it must be remem-
bered that many solitary larvae which do not form
a web for their protection are in the habit of
employing their silken store occasionally in spinning
a web, or else some slight shelter for themselves in
windy weather,_or during the periods when they
are casting their skins. Among the uses which
caterpillars' webs^ subserve, these may be indi-
cated :— 1. They aflord the caterpillars a screen from
rain, high wind, and moderate also the influences
produced by changes of temperature. 2. They
protect them during their changes of skin. 3.
They may insure the caterpillars a firm foothold
while feeding, often a circumstance of importance.
Some species are most cai'cful to extend their
webs or nests so as to cover the different boughs
or twigs upon which they feed. 4. They ward off
the attacks of birds, at least sometimes, and may
also prove a safeguard against parasitic insect
enemies. As to the Lackey {B. Keustria), which
Mr. Lovekin has referred to amongst others,
it is observable that when the caterpillar becomes
of good size its social habits cease, and each
wanders separately. 1 was certainly not aware,
however, that this caterpillar is more fortunate
than its brethren in being nearly exempt from the
peril of being devoured by birds. The Gold-tail
{L. aitriflua), though conspicuous enough in the
early summer, does not then conceal itself by a
web, which, in this species, is only formed as a
winter retreat. — /. R. S. C.

Large Green Grasshopper. — I found that
this insect would readily eat raw beef some years
ago, and I then noticed the fact in Science-Gossip.
1 have since tried some experiments with another
specimen, and found it was very partial to apple-
leaves and small grasshoppers; but the uncooked
meat offered him was refused; so I came to the
conclusion that grasshoppers, like human beings,
differ in their taste respecting diet. — Hele/i E.
Watney.

Singing Mice.— I cannot give the same experi-
ence of singing mice as your correspondent last
month. The singing mice in my present residence,
on the banks of the Khine, sing while running in
the room, and only seem to intermit while feeding,
and but for a moment. The sound varies from a
soft cheep-chirp to that of a spring running down
when over-wound, but more regular, and gives
the idea of activity and glee. These mice, both
singing and mute, are much larger than English
house mice, and often dig large holes in the earth
round my plants in pots. They also eat the leaves
of some plants, so as to strip them, and only yester-
day bit off the tops of a bouquet of violets
(Neapolitan), primulas, &c. On several occasions
they have attacked my canaries, which I suppose
to be unusual. Can your other correspondents in-
form me if they have experienced the like? All
the mice frequenting my house are singularly bold,
and comparatively indifferent to noise, continuing
their employments while the iron of my stove
rattles I'rom their efforts. Cheese is held of no avail
here in trapping mice; they can only be tempted by
meat. — Tedesca, Prussia.

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

93

Spo'nge Spicules.— All I can say in reply to
" H. R.," is that one fragment of freshwater spon2:e
— and one alone — furnished the spicules figured in
Science-Gossip, which, on account of the birotulate
spicules of the ovary, was referred to S.fluviatilis.
If it combines the characters of the two species,
systematists must settle the question. — C.

Scotland and the Unicorn (p. 46).— The
unicorn supporting the British arms on the sinister
side is derived from Scotland, but whether connected
with that figured on Queen Margaret's seal, I cannot
say. James I., as King of Scotland, had for iiis
supporters hoo unicorns : and on succeeding to the
English throne he introduced one of them as a
supporter of the arms of the United Kingdoms. —
G. II. H.

Spring Eungi.— Admirers of the beautiful
during their walks this spring should look in damp
sheltered situations, where fragments of rotten
sticks are overgrown with moss, for the gorgeous
cups of the Carmine Peziza (P. cocciiiea). A spe-
cimen of this plant when once found never fails to
elicit admiration from tliose to whom it is shown.
The December number of Science-Gossip con-
tained an account of the Orange Peziza {P. aurantki).
This species is autumnal, grows on the naked
ground, and has its sporidia rough witli little
granules. The Carmine Peziza is to be found in
winter and spring, growing on fragments of wood,
which may, or may not, be buried in the soil. Its
sporidia are oblong and quite smooth. The interior
of tiie cup is of a rich carmine hue, the exterior
whitish. Tlie Rev. M. J. Berkeley mentions a
variety that occurred at Kilmory which was quite
sessile, and orange externally. Has it been the
good fortune of any of your readers to meet with
this variety ? — C. B. P., Kmr/'s Lynn.

Oolitic Eossils.— Wishing to compile a list of
fossils of the Cornbrash, Eorest Marble, and Puller's
Earth, I shall feel greatly obliged to any geologist
who will send me a list of the species that he has
observed in those formations. I should also be
glad to know of any good and easily accessible
sections of those rocks in the West of England.
— H. J. Parsons, II. D., Beclciiujton, Somerset.

The PASSiON-rLOWER. — In the restoration of
our churches now in progress we are frequently
told that in windows and screens the Passion-
flower is used, evidently under the impression that
such a flower had been previously used there. Can
any of your readers give an authority for the early
appropriation of this elegant flower to the purposes
of ecclesiastical symbolism ?— ^. C.

Daggeu-moth.— I dare say my question is a
stupid one, but it is one I should nevertheless like
to see answered. What proof have we that the
insects, Acromjcta psi and tridens, are not the
same species with a permanent variety in the larva ?
The extreme similarity between the perfect insects
of the two (so-called species) renders it impossible
to distinguish between them in the perfect state. —
C. Lovekin, Notting Hill.

Canine Gyrations, — Your correspondent Mr.
Lefroy finds a speculative analogy (between the
gyrating habit of dogs and the spiral growth of
certain plants. It may interest him to know that
a "similar connection between the vegetable and
animal world in this matter" was humorously
suggested by the late Mr. Wilson, the bryologist,

who, in a letter to nie a few years since, after
describing the male inflorescence of Sphagnum,
concludes thus : — "Dogs are said to gyrate because
they cannot at once find the head of the bed ;
these spermatazoids perhaps from indecision of
character, or uncertainty as to the route, being only
partially _ endowed with instinct." Perhaps this
explanation of the canine habit may be found as
satisfactory as that suggested by Mr. Darwin. —
C. F. White, IFindsor Road, Ealing.

Name of the Lackey Moth (p. 8.5).— xi contri-
butor to SciENCK-Gossip has quoted a statement re-
garding the English designation of the above species,
which I canuot but believe incorrect. The Rev.
J. G. Wood adduces no proof that the name
"Lacquer" Moth was once applied to it, and, in
course of time, corrupted into " Lackey." The
assertion of other authors is much more plausible ;
namely, that the caterpillar gave rise to the name
which the moth bears in one of two ways. Some
say it is like a "lackey" because of its variegated
clothing, resembling in its costume certain serving-
men or lackeys who used to attend upon noblemen
a century ago or thereabouts. Eootmen's fashions
have, however, now been considerably modified.
Others, again, will have it that the slow and steady
way in which these caterpillars follow each other
on their excursions for, food while young was com-
pared by some observer of the olden time to the
stately procession of retainers preceding some
person of dignity. I venture to think either of
these suppositious more plausible than the one
quoted.—/. R. S. C.

Stag Beetle. — lu answer to G. Guyon, p. 45, 1
can also state that I have never experieucsd any
severe bite from a male stag beetle {L. Cerous). I
captured several last yeai', and handled them with-
out hurt ; but I should advise "A. E." not to try
the female cermis, or he will get a liard grip for his
pains, as I know, to my cost, their sliarp jaws will
nearly pierce the skin. I have often surmised what
is the cause of the male insect having such large
antlers, as it is evidently not for feeding purposes,
or the female would be likewise provided ; the fact
of their possessing but little power also denies the
imputation of fighting or burrowing with them.^*
John Henderson.

Sandpipers.— -Is it usual for sandpipers to
stand on the shore and allow the waves to wash
over them, as some here were observed to do so ? —
H. 0. R., Weston-super-Mare.

The Bull-frog.— This reptile, which is the
largest of the frog tribe, is very common in the
swampy parts of Canada. It is from six to seven
inches in length, and the hind legs are eaten, and
esteemed a great delicacy, somewhat resembling,
but superior to, chicken. — E. C. Lefroy.

A White " Brimstone."— A friend of mine has
in his collection a variety of the Brimstone butter-
fly {Gonepteryx rhamni), male, having in the centre
of tlie anterior wings a large patch of deep orange.
Erom its difl'ering from the Brimstone in no other
respect, I presume it to be a hybrid between that
and the Clouded Yellow {Colias edusa). — H. Moore,
67, Preston Street, Brighton.

Erratum.— I find a slight typographical error
in my note on the Gipsy-moth on page G9. In the
ninth line from top for mwles, read males. — R.
Laddiman.

03

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

W. D. — The ordinary way of becoming: a Fellow of the
I.innean Society is to get proposed by two Fellows, who can
testify to personal knowledge of the candidate, and of liis
fitness for election. If you know a F.L.S., communicate to
him your desire, and no difficulty will follow.

J. L. — We have inquired, but are sorry we cannot pive the
information our correspondent dpsires respecting: dried sea-
weeds. A little powdered quicklime will get rid of the bhick
slugs, and do the ferns no harm if it be used in moderation.
Common salt also may be used, and, perhaps, with greater
safety.

P. A. S.— P.^eudomorphic crystals of rock-salt from the
Trias : they are common in the upper beds, and have been
formed by the slow replacement of fine mud in the moulds
left by the salt cubes.

A. S. — The specimen of lizard sent is the " Smooth Water.
Newt " {Lophinuf! pii7ictahis), or " Water Evat." The tradi-
tion is pretty general as regards its reputed stingina: powers,
and as unfounded as it is firmly believed in. For a full
pccount of this reptile, and a refutation of the theory of
" ftinsting:," see Cooke's "British Reptiles." Hardvvicke,
London.

J. P. G. — The specimen sent is evidently a lichen, but it is
not sufficiently good for identification.

R. V. T.— The lichens on the rock fragments have given
ns no little trouble. We have submitted tliem to several
fungologi^its, but all are of opinion that they are in too imma-
ture a condition to have the species distinguished.

Frantis Bt'CKELr,. — We cannot inform you where a slide
of tlie lactiferous vessels of plants can be obtained. Why
not mount them yourself? They are easily procured by mace-
rating the leaves, &c., of plants containing them, and when
obtained, mounting them in a solution of gelatine and
carbolic acid. — F. K.

R. H. N. B. — Your sketch is much too indefinite to enable
us to say whether the crystal is anything unusual. The
characters of cry.'tals vary according to temperature and
strength of solution employed.— F. K.

W. L. N.— Both the " Oak-spangles " and " Silk-buttons "
are very common on the backs of leaves, especially on those
of the Oak. They are formed by an insect — a species of
Cynips. For full account, see Sciknce-Gossip, vol. ii.
p. 228.

R. Browv. — The plants are — A. Variety"of Chennpodium
Bonus Henricus. B. Ckenopodium botryoides. C. Chenopo-
dium album.

W. H . W.— Tlie fly sent is the common Sand-wasp {Ammo-
phila siibnlijaa). It deposits caterpillars of different species of
GeometrtdiE in its sand-burrows, for the nutriment of its
young.— C. G. B.

E. C— The insect commonly known as the " New Forest
Fly," which is so troublesome to horses, is Hippobosca equina,
Linn.— C. G. B.

M. H. — The plant is Gulinsnga parviflora, a native of Peru,
which has been completely naturalized in the neighbourhood
of Kew for some time. — B.

W. Sargent. — The directions given in Hogg on the
Microscope are those usually employed. The foUowin ;: plan
may, perhaps, be found useful when it is desirable to mount
quickly : — Place the specimen in liquor potass?e, boil for a few
minutes, wash in warm distilled water, boil again in carbolic
for a short time ; the preparation may then be soaked in
benzole, and afterwards mounted in balsam in the usual
manner. Entomological specimens are, however, best
mounted in some preservative fiuid (a dilute glycerine and
carbolic acid will be found well suited for that purp-fse).

E. C. Jei.lv. — Von do not say whether your zoophytes are
killed with the polypi expanded, or are only the polypdoms. If
the former, weak spirit would not be sufficient to prevent
decomposition. Goadby's fluid, or dilute glycerine and car-
bolic acid, would be best. If they are the polypdoms only,
wash away all traces of salt, and dry between blotting-paper.
When required for mounting, soak them for some hours in
the mounting fluid, and they will regain their original form.

EXCHANGES.

Notice. — Only one " Exchange '' can be inserted at a time
by the same individual. The maximum length (except for
correspondents not residing in Great Britain) is three lines.
Only objects of Natural History permitted. Notices must be
legibly written, in full, as intended to be inserted.

Larv/e of C. vi/liru, and eggs of B. Neu.itria, for eggs,
larvae, or pupje of other Lepidoptera.— H. A. Auld, 62, Gran-
ville Park, Blackheath.

A liberal exchange in selected Diatoms, Spicules, &c., for
real UrPKR Peruvian guano; presence of A. formosus to be
test of genuineness.— J. K. Jackson, Talbot Street, Oldbury,
Birmingham.

Erratum.— In A. N.'s exchange offer in March number of
SciEXCE-Gossir, for "Yarrow," read " Yarra."

HippoTno.\ niVARicATA, unmounted, for Hippothna
catenutaria. — Miss Jelly, 2, P/inces Road, St. Leonards-on-
Sea.

For Thus les Mois or Carina Starch and Scales of Gold-
fish send stamped envelope and object to Miss E. De
B. Meyrick, Downshire Lodge, Blessington, co. Wicklow,
Ireland.

COLIAS, E.lusa, Vaifssa polyrhloros, Limeni/is, SibyUri,
Hespinn Comma, for other Lepidoptera. — Joseph Andersoc,
Jun., Alresford, Hants.

Hawein'ch, Cuckoo, Kingfi^hrr, Sparrow - hawk, and
Tawny Owl's eggs in exchange for others. — Frederick Ander-
son, Alresford, Hants.

For.\minifkra from High and Low tide, Connemara,
West coast of Ireland, ditto from the Mediterranean. Send
stamped envelope and any object to Joseph Clegg, Jun.,
Croft Bank, Shaw, near Oldham.

Pecten operculahis, Cardlum Nof»egicum, &c., for
other British marine shells.— A. W. Langdon, Llanrwst
House, Hastings.

Fresh Microscopic Fungi (including Chister-cups), during
the coming sea>ion for unmounted objects. Lists to H.
English, Woodstone, Peterborough.

For Hairs of Angora and Pekan send stamped envelope
and objects of microscopical interest ti J. Sargent, Jun.,
Fritchlcy, near Derby.

SECTION'S of Brazilian twigs, fmir varieties; send address
and stamp with any microscopic material to Joseph Asten,
Baron Street, Rochdale.

Leptotriciium snb'ilntiim, Dcsmntodun nervosus, Trichoa-
tnmum litturitl'', &-c., offered in exchange for others. Send
lists to R. V. T., Withiel, Bodmin.

For spiral fibro tissue from seed of Trngopoffon prafensis,
send stamped directed envelope to T. H. Martin, 86, Week
Street, Maidstone.

Oi.dhamia in exchange for Trilobltes.— James Gourley,
Killinchy, co. Down.

Wanted to take in exchange or buy, a good specimen of
the Kingfisher. Stamped envelope and particulars to W. H.
Hunt, Hendford, Yeovil.

British Lichens wanted ; Belgian Mosses and Lichens
offered in exchange. Address E. Marchal, an Jardin Botanique,
Brussels.

A nujiber of Lepidoptera in exchange for various species,
of birds' eggs.— R. Kay, 2, f^pring Street, Bury.

PoLARiscopic and other objects ; rare Chemical Crystals,
Polyzoa, &c., mounted or unmounted, for other good objects.
Address,j Rev. J. M. Mello, The Rectory, Brampton, St.
Thomas, Chesterfield.

British Birds' Eggs for others, and British or foreign
Lepidoptera.— S. L. Mosley,Almondbury Bank, Huddersfield.

Barbadoes Poi-vcystina, symmetrically arranged in bal-
sam, opaque ; in exchange for good slides of named diatoms.
— G. H. Sti!bington,3, Agne? Villa, Basingstoke.

Crystals of Oxalmate of Ammonia for other good
mounted objects ; anatomical preferred. — R. Smith, Jun.,
Stone House, Belper.

YouNO state of Balanus balnnoides ; Scalariform tissue
from fern ; Spicules of Halichondria pnnicca ; Palates of
Mollusca for other mounted objects.— Johu C. Hutcheson, 8,
Lansdowne Crescent, Glasgow.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

" The Higher Ministry of Nature." By J. R. Leifchild,
M.A. London : Hodder & Stoughton.

" Science and Humanity." By Noah Porter, D.D., LL.D.,
&c. London : Hodder & Stoughton.

"The Lens." A Quarterly Journal of Microscopy. Chicago.

" The Journal of Botany." March.

" Annals and Magazine of Natural History." March.

" The Zoologist." March.

" The Amci-ican Naturalist." February.

"The Entomologist's Monthly Magazine." March.

" Practical Physiology, a School Manual of Health." By
Dr. Lankester, F.R.S., &c. Fifth edition, enlarged. London:
Robert Hardwicke.

Communications Received. — G. H. K.— T. S. — F. K
M. K — C. G. B — T. G. B— B. W. F.-C. F. W.— J. S. M
J. H. M.— E. C. L.— W. H. H.— W. M. M.— C. K.— H. R
_W. W.— A. H.— H. E. W.— J. R. S. C— W. W.— M. S
J. H.— R. L.— C. C.-T. C. B.— J. II.— J. A.— J. S.-G. N
— T. H.— A. W. L.-R. H.-H. M.— G. T.-H. W.— B. G
G. F. W.-S. L. M.— J. M. M.— M. A. D.— R. K.— R.H.N
— H. O. S.— J. G.— J. P. G.— A. S.— W. L. N.— H. E. W
E. L.— C. S. P. P.— W. (Oxford).— W. H. W.— W. B. P
J P. G —J. L.— E. C. J.— R. H. W.— E. D. B. M.— E. C
J. A — F. A. -J. D — W. S.-J. C— H. E.— A. W. L.— E.
L.— W. A. G.— W. D.— M. H.— E. W.— A. N.— W. D.— H.
A.— T. P. L.— C. G. R.-F. C— J. R. J.— C. F.-H.H. H
W. D.— H.G.— R. S.— H. M.— H. A.— G. H. S.— J. C. H
S. M.J.— R. P.-R. P. U.

HARDWICKE'S SC lEN CE-GOS SIP.

97

COLLECTING AND PEESEEVING.

No. IV.-FLOWERING PLANTS AND FERNS.
By James Bbitten, F.L.S.

/:<^

HE kindred sub-
jects of the col-
lecting of plants
and their ar-
ement

rans

in

the herbarium
have been treat-
ed of over and
over again, and it might almost
seem as tliough nothing further
needed to be said upon the
matter. But in spite of all that
has been written, it cannot be
said that anything like uniform
excellence has been attained,
either in the collecting or drj'-
ingof specimens: on the con-
trary, much carelessness is still
exhibited in both particulars,
and the following remarks on
the subject may therefore be useful to some, at any
rate, among the readers of Science-Gossip. It
has been found impossible to treat both points
adequately in one paper, so, on the present occa-
sion, we shall devote ourselves to collecting,
leaving the arrangement and matters connected
therewith for another occasion.

The great aim to be kept in view in collecting
is to obtain as perfect and comprehensive a speci-
men as possible ; that is, one showing every part
of the plant, — root, leaves, flowers, and fruit. It is
not always practicable to show all these upon one
specimen, and in such cases such a number must
be selected as will carry out this plan. The
wretched scraps with which some collectors con-
tent themselves are not only useless to their owners,
but annoyances to every one who has to do with
them, or who is requested to pronounce an opinion
upon them. Even among the readers of Science-
Gossip there are those who do not scruple to send
for determination single leaves, or a terminal shoot
No. 89.

of a flowering plant, or a pinnule of a fern without
fruit; a proceeding which is unfair to those to

Fig-. 6-2. Vounp: Plant of I/wii.cpa Qunmocl'it (frciR EecRiicU lU 's
" Organographie.' '

98

HARDWiCKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

whom they are submitted, inasmuch as they either
have to risk their reputation for accuracy, or to
appear uncourteous by refusing to have anything
to do with such specimens.

To begin at the beginning, how rarely do we find
the embryo of any species represented in a collec-
tion, of dried plants. It ought to be there, not
only as essential to the complete presentment of
the history of the species, but as in Certain cases
indicating relationships which are not apparent
■when the plant is more advanced. Those who
have not observed them would be surprised to find
how much variety of form exists in the cotyledons
alone, from the fleshy cotyledons of many of the
Leguminosae, the Horse-chestnut, &c., to the foli-
aceous ones, or seed-leaves, of other plants.
Among the latter may be noted and compared the

Fig. 63. Lime (Tilia europaa).

lobed or palmate cotyledons of the Lime (fig. 63),
the glossy dark -green somewhat kidney-shaped ones
of the Beech (fig. C4), and the pinnatifid ones
of the common garden Cress {Lepidium sativum),
the obcordate ones of the Mustard or Radish, the
long narrow thin ones of the Sycamore (fig. G5),
the sinuous or corrugated and bilobed ones of the
Walnut, — and many more which will occur to the
observant reader, or which may be collected by any
one who will take the trouble to watch the ger-
mination of plants. And by making such collec-
tions, unexpected discoveries may aiise, which will
yet further confirm what has been said about the
variety in form and structure even in these begin-
nings of growth. Plants which are, on account of
their general affinities, reckoned among the dicoty-
ledons, may be found on investigation to have
but one cotyledon, as Dr. Dickson observed to be

the case with two of our Butterworts, Pinguicula.
vulgaris and P. gmndiflora, the third species, P.
lusitanica, being dicotyledonous; or even to be
acotyledonous, as is the case with the Dodder
{Cuscuta). In the latter-named genus, it is of im-
portance to collect young specimens, as showing
that the plant, although parasitic as soon as it
comes in contact with a suitable foster-plant, is of
independent origin. A search among young plants
will no doubt lead to the discovery of some abuor-

Fig'. 64. Beech (Fagus sylvuticus).

malities, such as the tricotyledonous embryos lately
discussed in Science-Gossip. Of some plants,
such as the Furze, the true leaves can only be
found at an early stage of growth ; in others, much
variation may be noted in many points between the
first leaves and the more perfect ones which suc-
ceed them ; some, as the Holly, at once developing
leaves similar to those which arc produced through-
out the life of the plant, and others going through
many modifications before the ultimate shape is
attained, as in the Ash, Elder, Ivy, Maple, &c.

The roots or rhizomes also require to be much
more fully represented and carefully collected than
is usually the case. In every instance where the
size of the plant does not prevent, the subterranean

HAllDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP,

99

and subaqueous parts should be carefully procured
and preserved. Dr. Trimcn has lately directed
attention to the conn-like tubers of the Water Plan-
tain (Jlisma)* closely resembling those of the
Arrowhead {Sagittaria), which have been described
and figured by Nolte, but " do not seem to have
been observed, or at least properly ^mderstood, in
this country. They are buds remaining dormant
through the winter, and containing a store of
nutriment, to be employed in the development of
the new plant from the tuber in the next year."

Fig. 65. Sycamore {Acer pseudo-platunus). Showing Coty-
ledon, and fii-st and second pair of leaves. AU drawn by
Miss Giles, trom specimens lent by Mr. O. A. Favvis.

Similar bulbs are developed by the Progbit
{Eydrocharis) . In determining many grasses and
rushes, it is of importance to ascertain whether the
rhizome is creeping or csespitose, and it is therefore
essential to collect good specimens. In the case of
such plants as the Coral-wort {Dentaria bulbifera)
and Tooth-wort {Lathrcea squamarid), the root-
stocks are eminently characteristic. Of such para-
sites as the Broomrapes {Orobanche), some care is
requisite in obtaining specimens in which the con-
nection between the parasite and its foster-plant
may be preserved and shown. Tiie absence or pre-
sence of tubers should also be noted, and if present,
they must be represented.

Passing on to the leaves, we may note the im-
portance of obtaining in every case the root-leaves
of each species. These are often very different in
form from the stem-leaves, as in such species as
the Harebell {Campanula rotundifolia), Pimpinella,

\_ _ • Journal of Botany, vol. ix. p. 306.

Saxifraga, the Earth-nut {Bimium flexuosum), and
many more; in some instances, as in the Jersey
Bugloss {Echiiim plantagineum^, they at once cha-
racterize the species. Still more important arc
these lower leaves in the case of water-plants : in
the Arrowhead {Saglttaria), for example, they are
narrow, and resemble those of the Bur-reed {Spar-
ganinm) ; and in the Water Plantain {Alisma
Plantago), the submerged leaves are equally dif-
ferent from those which rise out of the water.
This difference is still more noticeable in the case
of the aquatic Ranunculi, where a knowledge of
the submerged leaves is essential to the discrimina-
tion of the various forms or species.

Where practicable, the whole plant should be
collected for the herbarium ; but when, from its size,
this cannot be accomplished, leaves from the root,
the centre of the main stem, and the lateral
branches, should be taken. As to the stem itself,
that must be represented : in the Buhl, indeed,
it is essential. "To judge properly of a bramble
from a preserved specimen," says Professor
Babington, " we require a piece of the middle
of the stem with more than one leaf; the base
and tip of the stem are also desirable, like-
wise a piece of the old stem with the flowering
shoot attached to it ; the panicle with flowers, and
the fruit. We likewise want to know the direction
of the stem throughout, of the leaflets, and of the
calyx ; also the shape of the petals and the colour
of the styles : a note of these should be made
when the specimen is gathered."

Passing on to the flowers, we shall find it neces-
sary to represent them in almost every stage, from
the bud to the perfecting of the fruit. It is of
course in most cases possible to select an example
in such a state as to show upon the same plant
buds, flowers, and fruits ; but where this is not the
case, each of these particulars must be supple-
mented by additional specimens. The turn which
botanical investigation has recently taken towards
the study of the phenomena connected with fertiliza-
tion has given the collector another subject to which
his attention may be profitably directed. It has
been observed that in some plants the stamens are
developed before the pistils, in others the pistils
are matured before the stamens ; while in yet a
third set, stamens and pistils are simultaneously
perfected. These three groups of plants are termed
respectively protandrous, protogynous, and synacmic,
and a very little observation will show that example
of each are suificiently common.

Then in dioecious and monoecious plants, both
male and female flowers must be collected ; and in
some cases, as in the Willows, four specimens are
necessary to the complete presentment of the
species, showing respectively the male and female
catkins, the leaves, and the fruit. Some plants
produce two distinct forms of blossom, as is

F 2

100

HARDWiCKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

noticeable in the Violets and the Woodsorrel, cue
being conspicuous and usually barren, the other
insignificant and often apctalous, but producing
perfect fruit. The pollen will afford occupation to
the microscopist : the researches of Mr. Gulliver
and Mr. Charles Bailey have demonstrated that
important distinguishing characters are in some
instances furnished by it. While on this point it
may be suggested that it is convenient in many
cases to collect several specimens of the flowers
alone, which, when dried, should be placed in a
small envelope or capsule, and attached to the
sheet on which the plant is represented. In the
event of any examination which may be requisite
after the plant is dried, these detached blossoms
will be found very useful, and will prevent the
necessity of damaging the specimen. In the case
of such plants as shed their corollas very readily,
as the Speedwells, it is as well to put them in
press as soon as collected ; and the colour of many
may be retained by the same means.

The fruits and seeds of plants are too generally
neglected by amateur collectors, but are essential
to the completeness of a specimen. It may be
found practically convenient to keep these in a
separate place, and detached from the plant ; and
in many cases of dried fruits it is advisable to sort
them into tbeir places without previous pressing.
By this means the modes of dehiscence will readily
be seen : pulpy and succulent fruits should be pre-
served in spirit. In such plants as the species of
Sea Sandwort {Lepigonum), and some Chenopodia,
important specific characters are drawn from the
seed ; as they are from the pods of Melilotus and
the fruits of Jgrmoiiia. In collecting ferns, well-
fruited fronds must be selected, as it is impossible
to determine specimens without fructification.
Grasses should be selected when in flower and
fruit, but must not be allowed to attain too great
an age before they are collected.

We have been speaking so far of the things to
be collected, and space will not allow us to dilate at
any length upon the apparatus necessary to that
end. Nor indeed is this necessary ; a good-sized
vasculum, with one or two smaller boxes for the
pocket, in which the more delicate plants may be
preserved ; a strong pocket-knife or small trowel,
for procuring roots, and a hooked stick wherewith
to fish out water-plants, or pull down branches, are
the principal things required. To any one residing
for any length of time, or even only for a few days,
in a"! district, a " London Catalogue " is an im-
portant acquisition, in which should be marked oif
all the species met with : by this means the flora of
the neighbourhood is ascertained at a very slight
expenditure of time and trouble. It is not advis-
able to collect too many plants at once, or to crowd
the vasculum, unless under exceptional circum-
stances; nor should the desire to possess rare

plants tend, as is too often the case, to the neglect
and exclusion of commoner ones.

A careful and observant collector will frequently
meet with forms which deviate more or less from
the accepted type of a species. When these ap-
pear to offer any marked characters, they should
be noted ; and in all cases it is well to preserve any
forms which, from external circumstances, have a
different appearance from the normal state. The
differences produced by soil and situation alone are
very considerable, and though the essential charac-
ters are usually to be discerned, the interest and
value of a herbarium is very much increased by a
selection of examples showing the range of a
species. Campanula glomerata offers a good example
of this : in damp meadows it is from one to two
feet high, with a large spreading terminal head of
blossoms, while on chalk downs it is often not more
than as many inches, with only one or two flowers :
in this state it was described by Withering as a
gentian, under the name of Gentiana collina ; and
the same author gives as Campanula imiflora a
one - flowered mountain state of the Harebell
(C. rotundifolia) .

The collector will also do well to keep a look-out
for deviations in structure, which are often of great
interest. In short, nothing should be neglected
which can tend to the perfect presentment of a'species
in the herbarium : its utility is commensurate with
its completeness. The mere collector may be satisfied
with scraps of a rare plant and the absence of com-
moner species ; but the real worker, for whose
benefit these hints are offered, will pride himself
rather upon the possession of instructive examples,
which may be of assistance to himself, as well as to
all those who may consult them.

Botanical Department, Britisli Museum.

THE TEST PODURA,

ll/rY first acquaintance with the Test Podura was
■^-^ about four years ago, when I secured a few
specimens at Theale, in company with the ordinary
Lepidocyrtus. Eor a period of twelve months after
this, my friend Mr. Blatch sent me up various
colonies of Lepidocyrti, among which, as I saw by
the scales deposited on the cover of the cell, a
test-bearing insect occasionally occurred. So much
were they alike, however, in their best condition,
that I repeatedly failed to distinguish their respec-
tive characteristics.

But at last Mr. J. Beck gave me a specimen to
report to hina upon, that he might compare notes
with me ; and this time I did grasp two distinctive
features of the test-insect which, from subsequent
acquaintance with it, seem to be permanent. Eirst,
a small tuft of cilia above the head, at the junction
of the prothorax and neck. Second, the possession

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

101

of numerous large scales, renderiug it a less gor-
geously iridescent creature than the ordinary Lepi-
docyrtus ; there being fewer angles of incidence for
the decomposition of the light on its exterior than
when the scales are small.

Fig-. 66. Head of Test Podura (Lepiduryrlus curvinoUh).
A. Tuft of cilia.

As the structure of all Lepidocyrti scales is
pretty much the same, I will lay down, as a sug-
gestion, some data for a really fioe test-scale. The
scale should be about "007 of an inch long in the
longest, and about "0025 wide in the widest part ;
and in the portions where the markings are best
developed there sliould be not more than six or
seven of these in the ywots of an inch linear, mea-
sured longitudinally. The markings should more-
over be clear and distinct ; and if this latter re-
quirement is satisfied, the size of the scale is of
less importance. The markings of some very few
scales exceed the dimensions I have given, but
such scales are of extreme rarity, and it will be
found sufficiently difficult to come somewhat near
the requisites named above.

During the whole of last summer I kept five test
insects in a cork cell together, in the hope of their
laying eggs, as by this sign I should know if they
were a distinct species by following up the inquiry ;
but the summer passed, and when the cold weather
set in, my five pets died off one by one, without
leaving a vestige of eggs. This fact, as well as the
general [strong resemblance to the ordinary Lepi-
docyrtus which the test-insect bears, strengthens
my suspicion that the test characteristics are merely
those of the male insect in certain localities.

I have never been able to distinguish the sexes,
nor yet have I ever seen copulation, though there
is no difficulty in obtaining eggs, or rearing the
young, if the colony originally obtained is numerous.
I have never obtained eggs from a solitary podura,
however long it may have been in my possession.

The test-insect has to my certain knowledge been
obtained at Theale, about the rockwork of a green-
house, and in the ale-stores, localities abundantly
inhabited by the ordinary Lepidocyrtus,* but always

See Science-Gossip, 186;, p. 55, figs, ag and 40.

with great rarity. In my last hunt I only cap-
tured one in a take of about forty Lepidocyrti.

The above hints may lead to the discovery of the
insects in other localities, and I shall be glad to
hear what success attends the search.

S. J. McIntiue.

PASSAGES IN THE LIFE OF "PHARAOH."

T SAW him first " that night in June." We had
-■- friends to dinner. Some of the guests had
arrived. I was sitting quietly all ready-dressed,
and doing my duty in the drawing-room. The win-
dows opened on to our suburban lawn. My brother,
just arrived from his office in the City, beckoned me
mysteriously from the room. "I have a wild animal
for you," he said, and led the way to a little place
where the coats were kept, and where a small fish-
basket stood on the table. Wonder and joyful an-
ticipation took possession of my mind, but my
brother endeavoured to induce me to exercise re-
straint and caution.

" It is a savage creature and will bite. You had
better take care how you touch it."

I accordingly peeped cautiously into the fish-
basket, and there I saw a mass of yellow furry
down. "A young gosling!" was my first thought,
but only for one instant, for two large brown eyes
and an old sad face with a hooked beak were turned
up towards me. There was no mistaking the little
owl. We carried him down into the kitchen. I
found he only bit at me because he was hungry, and
that he was too young to feed himself.

He had the air of a very wise, sad, old man. No
feathers showed as yet, nor could his wings be seen
when closed. He stood like a little triangle on his
two little feet, his head (looking very much too
large) being the base of the triangle. His melan-
choly was deep and settled; it made the tears
almost come into one's eyes to look at him ; but as
he grew older a certain dignity and philosophic
placidity of demeanour gradually replaced this look
of unutterable sadness. He set to work at once to
walk all over the kitchen floor, and stare at every
one and everything. He showed no fear, but seemed
totally unlike a bird in his ways.

I was quite unaccustomed to owls, and how to
feed him properly was a great anxiety to me. I
looked into our natural-history books and did the
best, I could; if he had been older, I might have
managed better; but as it was, I very much doubted
whether I should rear him. My brother had
bought him for half a crown in Leadenhall Market.
The young owl had three little brothers with him.
I got a large airy basket with a lid for his cradle ;
I cut up some raw meat and tried to feed him ; he
seemed to have no notion of eating. I used to have

103

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

to open his beak, hold his throat, and thrust down
the meat as far as possible. The first night I was
so anxious about liini I kept his cradle in my bed-
room, but he leapt up aud down and made so much
noise I was obliged to let him out, and whenever I
woke in the night I could hear his footsteps (he has
a singularly heavy tread for a bird) round and round
the room. I got up in the dark to feed him, but such
a horrible swearing, hissing sort of noise pi-oceeded
from under the bed that I tumbled back in a hurry,
till daylight should enable me to master the situ-
ation better.

I named my bird " Pharaoh " — there was some-
thing so truly ancient and mysterious about him. IVIy
principal trouble was this : Pharaoh had a dreadful
cold in his head ; his nose was really always run-
ning, and in the morning he could scarcely breathe,
aud used to be continually making noises between
a snuffle and a cough. I bathed his beak and
breathing-holes with hot water as often as I could.
I did not believe he could survive such an unnatural
kind of complaint as it appeared in his case. I
gave him hot brandy- and -water out of a spoon
twice, and got my brother to go and speak to the
man who sold him. The man in the market said
that young owls always had colds in their heads
when taken early from the nest. The cold con-
tinued for a long time, but did not seem to affect
his general health.

Pharaoh began to take his food better and to
scream incessantly for more; it was quite a work to
supply him. I could very seldom get mice. I ap-
plied at the corn-chandler's, but never got any. I
collected snails off the garden wall, was obliged to
crack them, and stuff them down Pharaoh's throat,
and this was not a pleasant business at all. Once
a frog was killed and cut up. We had some empty
stables across the yard, and two large lofts above.
Pharaoh slept in one of these ; he made his way at
once to the corner he liked best, and kept to it.
The little unfledged creature would be sitting at the
top of a long steep flight of stairs waiting for break-
fast, or if I was late, he would come down, and
across the yard, and into the hall, I do not think
he ever was young or foolish. He walked upstairs
whenever it was possible, and would be found sit-
ting boldly on the foot of some one's bed. Going
up as many stairs as he could find seemed a special
pleasure to him. While Pharaoh was young, I
noticed that he preferred dark places, but now,
at nearly a year old, he is perfectly accustomed
to broad sunlight, and sits contentedly in its full
blaze.

Some friends of mine gave me a dreadful account
of two young owls caught on Tooting Common, and
put into a hamper together. It \vas supposed that
they could not feed themselves, so they were stuffed
accordingly ; but one day, when the hamper was
opened, it was discovered that one of the owls was

dead, and that his brother had eaten up the greater
part of his body.

Tliere must have been mismanagement some-
wlieie. Pharaoh feared nothing. We had a beautiful
cat, whom I never quite trusted with regard to the
owl, and a very pretty black-and-tan terrier called
Troubadour. When Pharaoh came into the dining-
room at breakfast-time, we used to throw bits of
bread near him, to see which of the animals, who
were both greedy, would dare to touch ihem. The
cat would sometimes, the dog never. The back of
a red velvet chair in the drawing-room was Pharaoh's
favourite place, though he was not often allowed
there. I found him a charming green bower in the
foliage of the Westeria which covered the house on
one side. I carried him there once or twice out of
his yard.

One day I lost him, and hunted all over the
stable ; the yard gate into the garden was shut, and
Pharaoh could not fly. At last I looked in the
Westeria, and there sure enough he was ; he had
been seen going up a ladder, and over the wall, and
round the house to get at it. Some people were
almost inclined to believe that lie had put the lad-
der there himself to get over, such was the confi-
dence in his sagacity. He was a general favourite,
would go out and pay calls, sitting on my wrist, aud
spend whole afternoons in the pantry, where the
parlour-maid used to take him to sit, if she fancied
he felt lonely.

By this time my bird was growing beautiful. A
wonderful heart-shaped sort of bonnet of grey
feathers came round his face : his face was pure
white, with the feathers brushed back. Two up-
right ridges of white feathers stood out like a nose
above his beak, aud his eyes shone large and deep,
and full of discernment. His wings were very
beautiful, but unfortunately their development was
noticed while I was away for a short time, and an
inexperienced hand cut away all the shorter feathers
of one wing. This made no difference in his flying,
and on my return I was obliged to cut the long
feathers also. It has spoiled his appearance dread-
fully. The feathers at the back of his neck are
fawn-coloured, and so very deep and soft, and of a
light grey colour underneath : a new crop came up
I noticed only a few weeks ago. His breast is white,
and each outer feather has a minute black spot.

The cook told me one day that she really could
not have Mr. Pharaoh in her kitchen ; he was " as
full of fleas as he could be." I was very indignant,
and searched all through my beautiful bird without
a sign of any insect ; at last I discovered she had
taken his little spots for nasty fleas.

But with this description of his beauties, Pharaoh
is only a barn-owl, I believe; bird-fanciers to whom
I have shown him tell me they never saw an owl so
tame, and I believe it is very unusual. I have taken
hill! railway journeys shut up in his old cradle

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

lUc

and let liim out in the carriage to show my fellow-
passengers : I have left him for au hour or two in
the cloak-room, where he behaved with perfect pro-
priety and surprised the porters.

I once took him away with me on a three weeks'
visit to a country house. He was very much ad-
mired, came in-doors a good deal, was brought into
dessert the first evening. He often sat on the top
of the library door, preening his feathers and making
a curious singing noise, peculiar to him when very
friendly and contented. He makes it to me gene-
rally when I talk to him, and scratches my face
gently with his beak.

While on this visit I found out what Pharaoh
could be frightened at. He was in a shed at the
farm, where I left him sitting on a rail ; a party of
little calves were in the shed, and one of them trolted
towards Pharaoh, who, in a sudden fit of terror,
jumped into a tub of water, from which I rescued
him. He runs up my arm to my shoulder if he is
frightened, as I find he is at a horse sometimes, and
I just tuck him under my jacket if we meet any. He
will nestle quietly for any length of time. 1 found
out that he likes to take a bath ; I did not think of
supplying him with one till I saw him trying to
bathe in his jam-pot of drinking-water. If it raius,
he goes out and sits in it till he looks the most
wretched little object, his very small though plump
body showing its shape through the tight soaked
feathers. We moved in the autumn to a house
quite in the country ; I had a little fowl-house with
a small wire enclosure put up in the farmyard, in
order to keep four bantam fowls ; I put Mr. Pharaoh
in as well, as an experiment. It has turned out
perfectly ; they all five roost on the same perch,
Pharaoh always in his own particular place ; and I
have seen him turn out a hen which got into it
once.

I do not think he cares for the fowls, or they for
him, and they live peaceably on the plan of complete
indifTerence ; he is tiresome sometimes in making
the nests untidy with feathers, and sitting and
screaming when he is huugrj^, but he scarcely ever
screams now as he did when an infant. I have put
up a perch in the outer wired place, and he sits
there occasionally. A few days ago a friend sent
me a pair of brown and black guinea-pigs ; I thought
I would have a sort of happy family. I have had
an old wine-case turned into a little house for the
pigs, with a little hole for them to come in and out
just as they please, and have the run of the fowls'
little yard, the same as Pharaoh has. That wise
prince has discovered the luxury of the warm box,
and actually goes in at the little door and sits in the
hay with the two poor little guinea-pigs. I only
hope he may be a safe friend for them.

Pharaoh has never killed anything himself except
a black beetle, and that we had to push back every
time Pharaoh missed his mark. At last he struck

it with his beak, took it in his claw and ate it like
a small sweet-cake.

I have mice now for him, and plenty of birds are
shot for him by our farm man. He had a rook once
that lasted some days : it was extraordinary to see
him pull off mouthfuls of feathers and eat them.
1 once watched him eating a starling ; he pulled oft"
the head first, and swallowed it ; it looked so strange
to see the starling's long sharp beak gradually dis-
appearing down Pharaoh's beak, which is very little
larger. He eats a mouse whole generally, unless it
is a very large one, and then he will sometimes take
oft' the headfirst. I took him to pay a call the
other day, and a friend gave him a specimen of the
long-tailed field-mouse; Pharaoh with jerks and
throwing back his head swallowed the fat body of
the mouse, and then with half-closed eyes and
swollen nose (which are always his characteristics
when he has had plenty to eat), he sat on a wooden
chair in my friend's room, the long tail hanging
gracefully from his beak. The tail grew gradually
shorter, but it was some time before it disappeared
entirely.

The orifices of Pharaoh's ears are very large, and
iiidden in ,the thick grey feathers of his face : his
hearing is very acute. I was sitting in-doors one
day with him, and he turned suddenly and made his
little quick caw-like noise and stared out ; I listened,
and after a minute could hear a faint step on the
gravel a long way off, gradually coming nearer, and
Pharaoh watched carefully till some one passed the
window. He knows if he sees any creature for the
first time, and looks at it with great attention.
When we first came here, I took him to see the pig.
He followed every movement of the pig with his
great surprised eyes, and whenever the pig grunted
Pharaoh made a little observant remark. The next
time I took him he did not notice the pig more than
a moment, but sat on the wall of the sty, and stared
the other way. He can turn his head so as to look
down the middle of his back ; but the thing it is most
curious to see him do, is to twist his face gradually
round till his chin is exactly in the place where the
top of his head should be by nature. He does
this when he is looking at anything in a very
scrutinizing manner and cannot understand it, or
thinks a bird is being brought for him.

I think an owl about the most companionable
bird any one can keep. This spring there will be, no
doubt, a fresh supply of owls in the market, or in
their country homes. It is well worth while to
bring one up ; no taming seems necessary, no wild-
ness seems possible to my Pharaoh, though I notice
now and then a little disposition to bite strangers,
particularly gentlemen; but if anyone speaks gently
to him before touching him, there is never any diffi-
culty. Pharaoh is a wonderfully nice bird ; he
adapts himself to any circumstances ; he lived for
three weeks in a green-house, looking beautiful

104

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

upon a vine-stem, and generally sitting close to a
liot-water pipe, but he came back contentedly to his
little draughty fowl-house in w-inter weather, where
one would almost have fancied —

" Tlie owl for all his feathers was a-cold."

M. A. D.

SMELTS AND SMELTING.

THERE are few of our readers who have not
enjoyed that most delicate of all delicacies —
the Smelt. If they have not, we have no other
feeling for them than that of profound pity, tem-
pered by envy at their prospective enjoyment.
Not to have partaken of this fish, is to be ignorant
of how appreciative is the human palate.

Were you, gentle reader, to make your appear-
ance in " what used to be " the ancient city of
Norwich — as a local magnate unwittingly termed it
—you would see the process of " smelting " going
on every night with considerable energy. Do not full
into the error that something metallic is here meant,
and that your eyes would be greeted with a " Black
Country " sort of appearance. We are referring
to fishing, not to iron or steel manufacture. At the
head of the river Wensum is a place called the
New Mills, -where the water from what is called
the " Back River " has to pay toll in the shape of
turning large water-wheels before it is allowed to
emerge. This part is very deep and tolerably broad.
The sides of the river are flanked all the way down
by quaint, peaked cottages or granaries, whose
warm, red tiles look remarkably picturesque. Here
and there the barges peculiar to Eastern counties
rivers, with their single tan-coloured sails, are
moored to the quay. The water boils and surges
into foam, and at night the effect is heightened by
about a dozen flat-bottomed boats, to the sides of
each of which a large oil-lamp is attached, whose
flame is sputtering and flaring, and casting its
yellow glare over the water, giving to the scene quite
a Rembrandtesque effect. You have not to wait long
before you see that each of the men in the boats
is clothed with home-made oil-skin garments, and
that he is armed with a fine-meshed net, to which
a rope is attached. This is a "cast-net," and every
now and then you observe him gathering up the
net over his left arm, and with his right, making a
move or two before he throws the whole away
from him. The result is that the net falls on
the surface of the water in a regular circle ; the
rope is attached to the centre, and around the
edges are a series of perforated leaden bullets,
which innnediately sink the net to the bottom,
causing it to inclose any fish that may have been
attracted to the spot by the glare of the light. And
this is the way in which the Smelts are obtained.

The Smelt {Osmerus eperlanus) comes up the

river Yare from Yarmouth every spring to spawn.
Yarrell mentions that in some parts of England
this fish inhabits fresh water from August to May.
We know not how this may be, but are certain
that along the Eastern coast their fluviatile migra-
tions end when Yarrell says they begin. On the
night of the 10th of March the smelters commence
their work. As regularly at the end of April the
smelt-fishing is over. It seems a pity that this
fish should be so largely taken when full of spawn,
for nobody attempts to catch it when the season
is over, and, early in May, you may see shoals of
them, thin, emaciated, and shotten, hurrying down
to the sea. In the numbers which arrive consider-
able variation occurs ; not unfrequently, three or
four smelters will be out the whole night, and not
take more than a dozen fish among them. The
labour of "cast-netting" is considerable, for when
wetted, the net weighs twenty-five pounds, and a
smelt-fisher's patience must rank next to that of
Job, or he would never make one throw after an-
other without taking a fish ! On other occasions he
may take a score or two at a single cast. As the
market price is about three to four shillings a dozen,
there is considerable of the gambling spirit imported
into the fishing. Who knows but the next throw
may be worth five shillings ? And thus the patient
fisherman is deluded into making a night of it,
always intending to go home after he " has had
just one more cast " ! A good deal of this uncer-
tainty is due to the fact that about twelve miles
down the river, nets are now drawn across, so
that only those which get through the meshes
find their way to Norwich. The men in the latter
place grumble sorely, but they are unable to help
themselves.

Fig. 67. Scale of Smelt, x 16.

Wehave known the smelts to come up in such num-
bers that it was easy to detect the peculiar cucumber
smell which distinguishes them, by walking along
the riverside ! This odour is supposed to have given
them their name. Perhaps the circumstance of this
fish entering fresh water elsewhere at a different
season of the year may be due to local causes. Dr_
Parnell mentions that it ascends the Forth in

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE-G OSSIP.

105

March, and deposits its yellow spawn about two
miles below Stirling bridge. It is singular to find
that, as a rule, the females preponderate considerably
over the males in numbers, the latter coming up
the river a few days later than the former. A fish
often sold in the fish-markets as the true Smelt, is
in reality the Atherine, or " Sand Smelt," which
seems to be peculiarly marine. Its flavour is slightly
like the true Smelt, but not so powerful or so
agreeable. Anatomically it is distinguished by the
firm rays in its second dorsal fiu, the true Smelt
possessing only a small adipose and somewhat rudi-
mentary fin instead. In fig. 67 we have engraved
the scale of this fish.

The Norwich smelters have a peculiar custom :
most of them are dyers by trade, and endeavour to
pick up a little money by smelling at night. Of
course, after a good night's work there is usually
little dyeing done on the morrow ! In some of the
families smelting lias very likely been carried on for
generations. The men have certain rules, which
allow only so many fisliers to go out at a time ;
whilst each man takes his turn at the best "holes."
They regard amateurs or outsiders with the greatest
suspicion, although anybody who likes can fish if
Ihey choose. But that universal British solvent
called " beer," will do anything, and melt even the
heart of a smelter ! In this way you may get per-
mission to be in his boat, or may draw yours along-
side and try your luck at a cast. Supposing the
attempt be your first, the odds are that in casting
the net you will yourself follow it before you are

aware

J. E. Tayloh.

THE CUCKOO.

I HAVE often seen and heard descriptions of
the nesting habits and peculiarities of this
interesting bird, but I have a theory of my own on
the subject, which I have never seen stated else-
where, and which rests upon facts within my o'wn
observation.

When I was a boy, I lived on the border of a
furzy down, covered with gorse, fern, and heath,
and therefore of course patronized by those pretty
little birds, the Stonechats. In the nest of one of
these, a cuckoo deposited an t^^, which in due
course developed into a birdling, the mingled
pride and terror of its foster-mother. While it
was in this state, my sister and I discovered the
nest ; and, from the disparity between its size and
that of its fellow-nestlings, we concluded that it
was a young cuckoo. We of course communicated
the tidings to our other sisters and brothers, and
scarce a day passed but one or two of us visited the
nest. One morning when I went, accompanied by
my sister as before, what was our horror to see
four little dead birdies lying on the ground outside

the nest, and the young cuckoo, with another on
his broad back, conveying it, the fifth and last, to
tlic edge of the nest, and then deliberately heaving
it over. I was then too young to notice much, but
this scene made such an impression on me that I
don't think I shall ever forget it. When the young
cuckoo was fully fledged, we caged it, and it sur-
vived until November, but then it died, owing
either to the coldness of the climate or to its
migratory instinct being thwarted.

Last summer I was going for a walk, and sat
down on the side of a hill where I was nearly hid
from observation. While enjoying the sunshine
and the view over the sen, I heard the cuckoo. I
looked round, and presently saw two birds in a
field about 100 yards distant, and watched them
for some time. After flying about the field, playing
with one another for a few minutes, one of them
flew up into a tree close by, and commenced
repeating his note, which ended, I noticed, in a
guttural " cucka-cuck," quite distinct from the
usual "cuckoo." The only analogous sound that
I can think of, is a turkey's note of defiance.

Wlien this bird had seen whether the coast was
clear, he and his mate (whom, by the bye, I did
not once hear repeat their peculiar note, which
makes me disposed to believe that the female
cuckoo is mute) flew to the iiedge close by me ;
and, after a while, the female quitted the hedge,
and flew over my head towards the brow of the
hill, while her mate continued to repeat his mono-
tonous strain, varied with an occasional cucka-cuck.
In a few minutes she returned, followed nearly to
the hedge by a bird, which, as far as I could see,
was either a lark or a meadow pipit. I had seen
this occurrence frequently before, and my curiosity
was aroused, so I came out of my hiding-place
(much to the surprise of the pair of cuckoos, who
beat a precipitate retreat) and walked in the direc-
tion in which I had seen the cuckoo fly, in the
expectation of finding a lark or pipit's nest, and
therein a cuckoo's e^g. Nor was I mistaken ; for,
on looking about, after a very short search, I found
a pipit's nest with a cuckoo's egg quite warm in it.
This egg, with the help of a pin, I at once pro-
ceeded to blow ; but what was my astonishment to
find that, instead of being, as I thought, fresh laid,
the bird was quite formed, and just ready to burst
the shell. This incident gave me a notion that
cuckoos were not quite such careless and heartless
mothers as naturalists have represented them to
be, for 1 conjectured that this cuckoo's object must
have been to see how her offspring was getting on.
I determined to observe the next cuckoo or
cuckoo's egg that I came across, and indeed I was
heartily sorry for having destroyed the egg which I
had just found.

I was one evening, about seven o'clock (it was
abnost midsummer) searching for the nest of a

106

HARDWICKE'S SCIENC E-GOS SIP.

grasshopper-warbler, whose uote I had heard iu a j
certain field on several successive evenings. While
thus engaged, I saw a cuckoo, followed by a grey
wagtail, flying over a neighbouring wood. After a
few minutes the wagtail returned, and I went in
that direction, but failed to find her nest. On the
following evening I was again engaged seeking the
grasshopper warbler's nest, and I again saw the
cuckoo pursued by the wagtail. Once more I
sought for the wagtail's nest, and again failed.
Next year, however, I hope to meet with better
success, and to ascertain for a fact whether or not
the custom of the Cuckoo is to visit its eggs and
young periodically, and, if so, how often. I should
be much obliged if some other lovers of natural
history would help me. I should take great
pleasure in vindicating the character of the Cuckoo
from the charge of deserting its young to the
mercies of strangers.

I have heard it said that the physical conforma-
tion of the Cuckoo incapacitates it from the work
of incubation, and that, consequently, its maternal
instinct teaches it to deposit its eggs to be hatched
iu the nests of other birds. According to my idea,
it would seem a painful blot on the Cuckoo if it did
not feel anxious for the welfare of its young, and
manifest its watchfulness and care by frequent
visits. I would much rather believe that the
Cuckoo pays daily visits to its eggs and young ;
and, when they are all fledged, gathers them,
though reared in diflTerent homes, into one family,
and then takes them, under its fostering care, to
distant lands. G. E. R.

THE GLASS-ROPE SPONGE,

IN the April part of the "Annals of History,"
Dr. E. Gray has the following strictures on
my papers en Ilyalonema in the February and March
numbers of Science-Gossip : —

"Mr. E. Kitton makes some remarks on Paly-
tlioa investing the Glass-rope Sponge, and figures
some of the animals growing on the surface of
a ray's ova-case, evidently considering that this
proves their parasitic nature. He mentions a se-
cond case in which they are growing on a riband
frond of some species of Algae. I regard both these
instances as proving just tlie contrary — ' the Alga
had become entangled with the glass-rope.' The
egg-case of the Ray is often to be found attached
by its elongated ends to the glass-rope. I believe
the figure only represents some of tbe eggs or buds
of the Palythoa growing on its surface, to M'hich
they have become accidentally attached, and that
they will never come to perfection, so as to form
a crust or develop the ropc-likc spicules.

" My reason for believing this to be the case is,
that the polyps are more isolated ; they arc of different

sizes, some being very small ; some are crowded one
upon the other, so as deform their shape, very unlike
the uniform crust they form on the glass-rope ; and I
have no doubt of their being incapable, from theii'
position, of developing the usual rope.

" Mr. Kitton states that the examination of the
Palythoa, when [found apart, has enabled him to
ascertain the spicules peculiar to it. Eigs. 21 and
25 of his previous paper appear to be the only forms
of spicula really belonging to the Palythoa. He
omits to state that the spicules are siliceous, like the
other spicules found on the rope and bark of Hyalo-
nema, which have not hitherto been found on
Palyt hoa ; and the two forms he mentions from a
polyp only differ from those found on other parts of
that coral iu being thicker and more spinous.

"In a previous number of Science-Gossip, Mr.
Kitton figures Hyalonema, fig. 19, with its para-
sitic sponge and the various spicules he has observed
in different parts of it (figs. 21—31). These figures
are good, except fig. 20, representing the ends of a
broken fibre of the rope. He does not seem to be
aware that Hyalonema is more common without its
parasitical sponge at the top than with it ; but the
specimens with the sponge were formerly more
sought for by travellers, and brought to England,
whilst the Russian specimens, being collected by
naturalists, were chiefly without this parasite, and
now we constantly receive them without any appear-
ance of sponge covered with living polyps up to the
tip."

In reply to the remarks which Dr. Gray has done
me the honour to make on my papers, I beg to say
that I am still unconvinced of the parasitic nature
of tbe sponge, or that the Palythoa is non-parasitic.
Until I saw the specimens belonging to the Rev.
J. Crompton, I was very much inclined to believe
that the Palythoa was an integral portion of the
sponge ; but when I saw it growing on the alga as
stated, and this not entangled on the glass-rope, but
carefully twisted round it, and below it some fine
twine, I could only come to the conclusion that the
long anchoring spicula did not belong to the Paly-
thoa. The ova-case of the Dog-fish was attached to
the glass-rope by one of its long tendril-like filaments,
but the rope itself had none of the Palythoa growing
upon it : in both cases the crust and tubercles
were as well developed as when growing on the
glass-rope.

Dr. Gray says I omit to state that the spicules in
the Palythoa are siliceous ; if, however, be will refer
to my first paper, he will find 1 particularly allude to
their siliceous nature, considering that to be evi-
dence of their spongeous origin.

My reasons for considering the sponge and rope
as one organism, are, that many of the forms of
spicula occurring in the heads of the sponge arc
also found between filaments forming the rope, par-
ticularly the spiculate cruciform, the attenuated

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

107

rectangulated, hexradiate, and (rare) tlic multi-
hamate birotulate spicules.

The occurrence of long anchoring spicula in
Pharonema Grayii and F. Carpenteri is, I should
imagine, very conclusive evidence that the rope in
Uyalonetna is a portion of the head.

Dr. Gray says he supposes I am not aware that
specimens of Hyalonema occur more frequently
without than with its parasitic sponge. This is
very probably correct ; but they had no doubt lost
the sponge, either from the decay of the sarcode or
been pulled off by the dredger or diver ; in the
former case, the rope, when divested of its spongy
head, would in all probability soon be invested by
the parasitic Palythoa. Dr. Perceval Wright, who
has had the opportunity of exanuning specimens
in a living state, is quite satisfied as to the para-
sitic nature of the Palythoa.

Norwich. Fued. Kitton.

LAND-SLIP NEAR NORTHVVICH,
CHESHIRE.

A FEW weeks ago the writer went in search of
a reported land-slip in the salt district of
Cheshire. An occurrence of this sort is not unfre-
quent in the neighbourhood of tlie Salt-works, as
those who happen to live near them know to their
cost ; and any one traversing the nai'row, tortuous,
and unpicturesque streets of Northwich may see
the results of minor sinkings of the land, in houses
whose walls bear mayks of " faults," one part having
slipped, leaving rents from basement to roof; others,
whose windows are all awry, presenting a some-
what grotesque appearance. This sinking and
disturbance of the land are caused by the salt-
mining operations carried on beneath.

The salt-beds occur in what geologists denom-
inate the Triassic formation, from its tripartite
character, and it is in the red clays of the upper
group of rocks in which salt is found, either in a
state of solution as brine, or in masses of pure rock
salt 90 to 100 feet thick. Beneath these lie the
well-known " water-stones," bearing the ripple-
marks and reptilian impressions.

Arriving at Northwich, I learned that the place of
which I was in quest lay about six miles away, and
close to the Whitegate station, on the line from
Northwich to Winsford. Proceeding thither, I found
the object of my search in among the fields, which
are all used for agricultural purposes, and belong
to the adjacent farm of Marton Hall. One of the
peculiarities of this land-slip is its distance from
any salt-works, the nearest being at Winsford,
about two miles off.

The chasm, which is almost of a circular shape, is
upwards of 300 y^rds in circumference, and about
60 or 70 feet deep ; the sides are'remarkably steep,

and expose the reddish clay of which the whole of
the land-slip is composed. At the bottom lies a
lake of water of a greenish hue, which is brine, and
as the declivity was so steep and the clay wet from
recent rain, I refrained from descending, having in
my mind the "facilis descensus Averni" and the
fear of a sudden and undesirable pickling in the
briny water below. The shape of the interior of
the chasm is that of an inverted cone, or the empty
crater of a volcano, and the first question that
naturally rises to one's lips is^ Where has the land
gone ? for here you have not, as in many land-slips
I have seen, the earth or rock lying in confused and
broken masses around, but there is not the remotest
trace of anything that once stood there ; hedges and
trees all have disappeared into the bowels of the
earth, and lie beneath the water that covers the
bottom.

Before offering an explanation of these curious
phenomena, I must premise that most of the salt
used for culinary purposes in England is made
from the brine, which is pumped up from the
brine-holding strata beneath ; and we may fairly
presume that the district for miles round the
actual workings is thus being gradually drained.
Supposing then that water percolating through the
overlying beds, or some system of underground
drainage, has come into contact with the deposit of
rock salt, this would in course of time be dissolved,
and, as the district becomes drained of the brine,
leave hollows or caverns ; and presuming some weak
spot in the superincumbent beds of clay overlying
one of these hollows or caverns, one can easily
imagine the clay gradually falling away and taking
the place of the original salt-deposit, until at last
the surface laud, not having sufficient support from
beneath, has fallen bodily into those presumable
subterraneous caverns, which originally were filled
with salt. M. S.

THE SAFERON {Crocus sativus).

A SHORT note drawing attention to this Eastern
plant having appeared in Science-Gossip
for December, will you grant me space for a few
details ?

Although this crocus is found in a wild state on
the sunny plains of Italy, it most decidedly has been
traced to the East originally.

It is one of the plants mentioned in the garden
of the Wise King (Cant. iv. verse 14), and the
Arabs of the present day value highly the virtues
of their Zafran.

The flowers are lilac-coloured, the stigmas a deep
orange ; and tiiese stigmas, with a portion of the
styles, afford the saffron of the shops.

The saffron crocus was first cultivated at Walden
in the time of Edward III. by a Sir Thomas Smith,

108

HARDWICKE'S SCI EN CE- GOSSIP.

and the place was henceforward known as Saffron
Walden.

If you want to grow saffron, you should plant the
bulbs in July, in rows. The soil ought to be rich
and light. About the third week in September you
will see the leaves appear in little delicate tufts ;
they grow immediately from the bulb, and are enve-
loped in a thin membrane or sheath. The flowers
proceed from the leaves on a very short scape, and
may be expected to bloom early in the month of
October. They will come up in succession for a
mouth, six or ten, or even moi'c, from one plant ;
and, to insure fine saffron, ought to be gathered
early of a morning, the stigma and style picked out
and dried carefully in the sun.

The leaves keep green in winter, but die off in
May ; so a saffron-bed looks very bare and ugly from
this month until autumn.

English saffron is|cousidcred thebest. The Spanish
Azofra7i is dipped in oil to preserve it, and this is
supposed to take from its value.

Saffron is a favourite remedy with old women for
" lowuess of spirits " (for diseases which medical
men would at once recognize as nervous), but it
will in some constitutions produce most undesirable
effects, and make the before crying patient burst
into fits of excessive laughter, reminding one of
those very remarkable pictures which so often
accompany the advertisements of " an immediate
cure for the toothache."

The scent of the Saffron was highly valued by the
ancients. Virgil mentions "saft'ron odours." He
also says bees love to feed on this flower.

" Et cum scena croco Cilici perfusa recens est,"
writes Lucretius ; and Pliny also says that wine in
which saffron had been steeped was sprinkled in
theatres, the safirou growing in CiHcia on Mount
Corycus being the finest of all.

The Hebrews call this plant, or the produce of it
(for I am not quite certain which), Karkom; and I
read in a book of Eastern travels lately that a lilac
flower exactly like this crocus grows on the bare
dry sand near " Wady Ramleh."

The Meadow-saffron is a different plant ; from it
colchicum is produced : and we likewise have an
'L-arly purple crocus — the C. vermes, or|spring crocus ;
but neither of the latter possesses any medicinal
virtues, I believe. Helen E. Watney.

SUPPOSED PAUASITE OP ELM.

rriHE above was found under the bark iu com-
-^ pauy with Clausilia, and its description is as
follows : —

The tongue, armed with closely-set recurved
teeth, and evidently trifid, traversed in its entire
length by a narrow channel, is apparently designed
to penetrate and extract the juices of the softer and

decayed parts of the bark. The whole apparatus is

Fig;. 68. Tongue of Parasite.

represented in fig. 68 ; the three parts being folded

toget

ucr.

Fig. Gd. Pygidium of Parasite, x 160.
Two projecting toothed processes are

Fig. 70. Feet of Parasite.

riARDWICKE'S SClENCE-GOSSir.

109

Fig. 71. Supposed Parasite of Elm, x j.o.

also showu, X IGO. The upper part of the figure
gives the connection with the cephalic se;;ment.
Eig. 69 represents one of the two (pygidia ?) x 160.
The surface next the eye (ventral) is in focus the
indistinct hexagonal areolation belonging to the
dorsal side of the organ. The minute dots repre-
sented give the object a delicate beauty of aspect,
very difficult to reproduce in a drawing.

Fig. 70 gives a representation of two of the feet,
(1) in which the unci are well developed, and the
pulvilli comparatively small, belonging to the first
pair of legs ; (2) which shows the pulvilli much
more conspicuously, the unci being very small,
appertaining to the third pair. The feet are drawn
to the same scale as fig. 69. Fig. 71 shows the entire
insect x 40 diameters, mounted in balsam. It is
hoped that the description and drawings may lead
to the identification of this possible stranger.

Cjiakles E. Burton.

INDIAN ANT JOTTINGS.
By Chaules Hokne, late B.C.S., &c.

WHEN I was young I read in Proverbs vi. 6,
" Go to the ant, thou sluggard ; consider her
ways, and be wise, which having no guide, overseer,
or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and
gathereth her food in the harvest."
Hence I inferred that all ants were thus provi-

dent, not being then aware that many species ap-
pear to remain all the winter in a dormant state of
hybernation ; nor hnd 1 until very lately heard of
any grain-storing European ant. At a late meeting
of the Entomological Society of London, a com-
munication was read from a gentleman at Nismes,
South France, recording the habit of some ants in
storing grain, seeds, &c., near that place. To prove
it, he had scattered some hempseed near, and they
had been carried into the nest, and shortly after-
wards he discovered their husks outside. I think he
added that in some cases, before storing, the germs
had been bitten out, which would argue great fore-
sight on the part of these intelligent little creatures ;
but be this as it may, the fact of storing was fully
proved.

At our last meeting there was a further note
from the same gentleman from Capri, still farther
south, where he had observed similar habits in
ants.

But my notes carry me to the far East, where I
often watched this most interesting class of insects,
and briefly recorded my observations, unfortu-
nately cut short by illness, and the necessity of
return to Europe, which must be my apology for
their want of completeness.

But before transcribing, I would remind my
general reader that all ants may be seen carrying
oif food to their nests for present consumption, and
that this food consists of a great variety of sub-

110

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

stances. This is disposed of inside the said nest,
being often masticated and the juice extracted by
the workers, and then given in an inspissated form
from their mouths to the young grubs, which are in
general tended by their nurses with the greatest
care. It is indeed very curious to watch tliis feed-
ing process ; but to proceed.

Under date Nov. 7tb, ISGG, I find in my luituial
liistory note-book as follows : — Mainpuri. This
morning as I was walking across the " Oosur," or
waste plain, wliere it was very sandy, being cut
into small ravines, and clollied only here and there
with fine grass disposed in clamps, thus forniing
little hillocks of sand blown by the wind, and ar-
rested in its course by the grass, I came across a
long line of ants, travelling four deep, some coming
empty, and others laden each with one grass-seed
on their way home.

I followed up the procession to the nest, which
was subterranean, and at the mouth of which on the
level plain there was no trace of elevation caused
by the soil brought up from below, owing to the
habit of these ants of taking each grain of sand to
some distance along their road, and depositing it on
one side or the other.

There may liavc been five or six entrances to the
nest, in and out of which a prodigious number of
ants were passing, the species of which has been
described by Dr. Jerdon. They were of a medium
size, shortish bodies, and of a reddish-brown colour,
• — Podomyrtiia rufo-nigra, Jerdon. Around the
mouth of the nest, forming a circle of perhaps
eighteen inches in diameter, was a space beaten
flat, and kept clear by these said ants, from which
radiated in every direction thirteen roads, each
about four inches in width for about 30 to 40 yards,
wlieu they branched off and became narrower, being
ultimately lost amongst the grass roots. These
paths were fairly straight ; they did not cut through
elevations, but M'ent round them.

From a careful examination, it appeared that they
had been cleared of all obstacles, such as small
stones, twigs, &c., but that their smoothness re-
sulted only from the tread of countless feet.

The bearers of burdens took the seeds into the
nest, which I did not dig up, and certainly stored
them there, after having prepared them, probably by
tlie removal of a portion of the outer husk. Of
tliese Imsks there were large collections near the
entrances to the nest, all carefully set aside by the
ants.

In times of famine, 1 am told, not only are the
nests rifled of their grass-seed stores, but these
heaps of apparent husks are collected and ground
with otlier grain to eke out a subsistence.

This kind of grain has a name, " Jurroon," derived
from " Jharna," to sweep, literally, sweepings. I
much regret that I have not preserved specimens of
this " Jurroon," for it is very unlikely that the ants

after taking it to their granary, should again throw it
out, and yet, if grainless, what benefit could there be
in eating it ? The season of the year when I observed
them (November) is the beginning of the cold wea-
ther, and no rain would probably fall (excepting a
little at Christmas) till next May or June. Later
on seed would be rare ; and how the nest fares at a
time when floods of water often pass over the plain
I cannot conceive.

It is clear that some escape, and we know with
what prodigious rapidity these colonies increase.
But these jottings have been recorded merely to
show how this species of ant store grain against
a time of scarcity, and fully bear out the. state-
ment in the text with which I commenced this
paper.

MICROSCOPY.

PiTCHSTONE, PoBPHYRiNE, &c. — One of the most
interesting of volcanic products to the micro-
scopist is the variety of pitchstone found in the
Isle of Arran. When thin sections of this material
are examined with a two-thirds or half-inch objec-
tive, beautiful dendritic forms will be found perme-
ating the vitreous mass. The casual observer is
apt to declare that these frond-like forms are fossil
mosses, arid is unwilling to believe that they have

Fig. ~1. Section of Pitchstone.

a crystalline origin. 'I'he pitchstone from the Isle
of Arran differs from obsidian, in containing a
variety of crystalline minerals ; the beautiful den-
dritic forms are produced by the acicular crystal-
lization of pyroxene. Tlicse crystals are cither
isolated or combined ; in the latter condition, they
appear like microscopic ferns, fronds, or tufts of
Batraeliospermum entombed in glass. The trans-
parent material in which these crystals occur

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

Ill

consists of vitreous nicattcr formed wiiliin the great
volcanoes of the Miocene epoch ; and the melted
mass, slowly cooling, allowed the crystalline ele-
ments mixed with it to crystallize. According to
Dana, pitchstone is composed of albite or oligo-
close, rather than ortlioclose, that is, it contains
soda, or soda and lime, instead of potash : its
chemical constituents are silica, alumina, iron
lime, and soda. Porphyrine is an artiflcial produc-
tion, and is introduced here as an illustration of
the production of crystalline forms when molten
vitreous matter is allowed to cool slowly. This
substance is of a beautiful crimson colour, and is
said to be manufactured only in llussia, where it
is used for mosaic-work : its composition is
asserted to be a secret. As a microscopic object,
it appears to be little known, probably owing to its

Fig. 73. Section of Porphyrine.

scarcity : under the binocular, I know of few
objects that can compete with it. The beautiful
fern-like crystals embedded in the transparent
base would alone interest the observer; but, in
addition to this elegant outline, the fern-fronds are
of a beautiful crimson colour. The most effective
way of viewing them is with a two-thirds objective,
and Lieberkiihn. Many very beautiful crystalline
forms, adapted for microscopic observation, may
be produced by means of the blowpipe. The
following is the plan recommended by Mr. Sorby,
F.R.S. :— A small quantity of borax is mixed with
some mineral salt or oxide, and a little of it placed
in a small platinum ring of about one-eighth inch
diameter, and then fused with the blowpipe. After
fusing, the bead is to be kept for some little time
at a dull red lieat ; when cool, the ring containing
the bead may be cut off, and the whole mounted in
Canada balsam. The author advises the use of a
four-tenths objective for the examination of the
crystals. The following salts and oxides produce
beautiful crystalline forms :— borate of magnesia.

zirconia, theolite (native tungstate of lime), mo-
lybdate of strontia, apatite, native phosphate of
lime. A full description and figures of the crystals
will be found iu vol. i. of the Monthhj Micro-
scopical Journal, p. 347.

New Microscopical Journal. — We have
received the first number of a new journal of
natural history and microscopy, published iu Chi-
cago, under the name of The Lens. The principal
paper iu it, however, is taken from the Monthly
Microscopical Journal — illustrations as well. A
little leniency may be shown to this common trans-
atlantic fault, on account of the great fire. We
congratulate the editors ou so soon recovering the
loss then inflicted.

On Staining Tissues. — It is desirable to stain
sections of all soft tissues, whether from healthy or
diseased specimens. Eirst, because it enables us
more accurately to distinguish germinal or nuclear
matter from formed material, or tissue proper, by
their differences in receptivity of colour ; and
secondly, because it brings into relief all consti-
tuents of soft tissue, and therefore renders their
study easier and more satisfactory. The staining
material which aids me most, and therefore suits
me best, is the alkaline solution of carmine made
after Beales's formula. The sections should be
placed in the carmine solution as soon as they are
made, and they should be made as soon as possible.
No positive rules can be laid down as to the precise
time required for the completion of the staining
process. It will vary, within certain limits, accord-
ing to the character of the tissue and alkalinity
of the solution. In regard to this latter point, I
may properly say that the carmine solution should
neither be neutral nor intensely alkaline : in the
former case, all portions of the tissue will probably
be stained alike ; in the latter case, much of the
younger or softer portion of the formed material sur-
rounding the germinal matter will be destroyed by
the excess of alkali. I generally permit my own sec-
tions to remain iu carmine for three or four hours.
Having completed the staining process, the sections
should next be immersed in a mixture composed of
Price's or Sarg's glycerine and distilled water, aa
3iv., acetic acid gtt. xx. This answers the double
purpose of rendering the so-called nuclei (germinal
matter, bioplast) sharp and clear, and of com-
mencing the process of impregnating with stron;^
glycerine ; it will also remove the superfluous car-
mine. After being soaked in the glycerine an*',
water mixture for from twelve to twenty-four hours
they should be transferred to the following mixture :
purest and strongest glycerine, si-; P^n'c acetic
acid, gtt. V. They should be allowed to remain in
this mixture until they are fully saturated therewith.
This will take from two days to as many weeks.
— /. N. Banforth, 31. D., in the " Lens."

112

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE -GO S SIP.

ZOOLOGY.

A Pakasitic Rotifer? In some water taken
from ajpond near this place last Cliristmas, I found
a few days ago several specimens of Daphne covered
with a species of Rotifer, of which the following is
a sketch. The power used was a quarter-inch. If

Fig. "4. Parasitic Rotifer (?) on Daphnia,

you or any of your correspondents can enlighten
me as to the name and habit of this rotifer, I
shall be much obliged, as it is quite new to me, and
I can find no mention of it in any work on Infusoria
which I have at hand.

A British Turtle. — A young Hawksbill
Turtle (Chelonia inibricata) was a few days ago ex-
hibited in the streets of Hastings. It had been
cauglit by a fishing-boat thirty miles off Beachy
Head. The occurrence of this turtle in British
waters is of very rare occurrence. The carapace of
this individual was about a foot long.— ^. W. L.

Reptile Hygroscopy.— Toads have a fine appre-
ciation of moisture in the air. Near the writer's
residence is a sheet of water, situated on the top of a
hill. In spring great numbers of toads come from
the fields around and make for the pool, no doubt
made aware of its proximity by their hygroscopic
sensibility, and designing to deposit their ova at its
margin. Unfortunately for themselves, they are not
able to ascend the fence in question, and so fall
victims in numbers to thoughtless boys.— i2. G.

Popular Science.— The last number of tlie
Popular Science Beview contains several capital
articles, from the pens of some of our most eminent
scientific men, all of which will be read with great
interest. Among them are papers "On the Struc-
ture of Camerated Shells," by H. Woodward,
P.G.S. ; another on "The Temperature and Move-
ment of the Deep Sea," by Dr. Carpenter ; one on
the " Physiological Position of Alcohol," by Dr.

Richardson; and the last "On the Nature of
Sponges," by H. J. Slack, P.G.S. In addition to
the above are other articles by R. A. Proctor and
S. J. Mackie, on the " Eclipse of last December,"
and"TheLithofracteur."

Marine Aquaria. — The success which has at-
tended the foundation of a marine aquarium in the
Crystal Palace has induced a number of gentlemen
to start a company for the purpose of establishing
one in Manchester. A site has already been ob-
tained in the vicinity of Alexandra Park, and the
aquarium at Sydenham will be taken as a pattern.
It will be a promising feature in the future educa-
tion of youth, when one of their amusements in
every town and city will be an introduction to the
many strange forms which inhabit the dark caves
of ocean.

North American IIymenoptera.— Mr. E. T.
Cresson has commenced, in the Pebruary number
of the Canadian Entomologist, a series of descrip-
tions of North American Hymenoptera. The first
part begins the family Ichneumonidse, with the
genus 3Iesochorns. By the statute of incorpora-
tion, the Entomological Society of Ontario is
required to furnish the Commissioner of Agri-
culture with an annual report of insects noxious or
beneficial to agriculture, and the last report of this
kind is now announced as ready.

New Species of Sericoris.— Mr. C. G. Bar-
rett has described, in the Entomological Magazine
for March, a species o{ Sericoris, allied to Cespitana,
which is new to science. Its habitat is in Ran-
worth Pen, Norfolk, in July. Mr. Barrett has named
this new species Bouhkdayana, in honour of Mr.
Doubleday, the well-known entomologist.

Saw-flies and Water.— A communication has
been made to the Entomological Society by Mr. P.
Cameron, to the effect that the gall- making saw-flies
avoid those parts of willow-trees that overhang
water, on account of the impossibility of tlie larvae
descending for the purposes of pupation in the earth.
A similar fact has been recorded with regard to
the American plum-weevil.

Fresh-water Polyzoa.— Mr. Stewart recently
explained to the South Loudon Microscopical and
Natural History Club that he had succeeded in
killing Polyzoa with the tentacles expanded, by
adding a few drops of the best French brandy to
the water in which they were living. He supposed
they were overcome by the liquor before they could
draw in their tentacles.

" The name ' Lory ' has been given to this tribe of
Parrots because they have the habit of saying the
word 'Lory' over and over ngu'm"—" Beaittifnl
Birch in Far-off Land-i."

HAilDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

113

BOTANY.

Chlorophyll in the Lower Organisms. —
Professor Famintzin has communicated to the
Academy of St, Petersburg a paper on the use of
inorganic salts as an important aid in the study of
the development of the lower chlorophyll-contain-
ing organisms. His solutions were made with a
view to tracing the kind and amount of variability
in the development of the lower alg^e under culti-
vation. Among other means he employed a solu-
tion of lime, potash, and magnesia, in which he
found alga; developed with remarkable freedom.

Colouring Matter in Fungi.— Mr. H. C.
Sorby has determined the existence of at least
thirty distinct colouring substances in fungi. The
majority contain at least two, and many of them
several, different kinds. Twenty of these have such
well-marked optical qualities that they could be
recognized without difficulty in other plants, but
only one of them, a fine orange- colour, is known to
exist in any plant not a fungus. As far as Mr.
Sorby's observations extend, there is little or no
specific agreement between the substances found in
fungi and those met with in alga; and lichens,
though the two latter orders are closely related in
this respect.

The Passion-flower. — The earliest passion-
flower introduced to the Old World is Passiflora
incarnata, in 1629, from North America ; but the
universal favourite, P. carulea, was not known here
till 1699, from Brazil. Hence it is vain to expect
a pre-Reformatiou example of this genus. Yet
from the pertinacity with which decorators use this
flower, especially at Easter-tide, it is evident that
they assume it to have been a sacred emblem. I
have been told the following is the interpretation
given to the various parts of the flower. The
columella is typical of the scourging-post ; the 10
petals and 3 sepals, the thirteen apostles ; the 5
stamens, the five wounds; and the 3 stigmas, the
nails. The crown of thorns is represented by the
inner circle of rays, and the crown of glory by the
larger circle ; while the leaves are emblematic of
the open hand that struck the blow ; and the ten-
drils, the scourges and bonds. Yet an authority,
erroneous though it may be, must exist, for this
wide-spread use of the ornament; and this it seems
is the Rose-en-Soleil, the favourite badge of
Edward IV., and used so repeatedly by him and
his partisans. The badge is frequently to be met
with in quarries of church glass ; and the colour
being yellow and outline only, it bears a consider-
able resemblance to the common Passion-flower,
especially when on greenish glass. I have seen it
in the church of St. Martin at Palace, Norwich,
and also in Ely Cathedral, and was there told by
the verger that they were passion-flowers. At

Martham, in Norfolk, the carver has used the
P. ccenilea as his model with considerable success
as an ornament. —T. 0. Bayfield.

The True Shamrock,— St. Patrick's day has
passed and gone, but I have not till now had au
opportunity of putting a query which perhaps some
of your correspondents may be kind enough to
answer for mc. In the first place, what kind of
plant may the so-called 'Urue Shamrock" be ? and
secondly, what might be the supposed derivation of
that word? for concerning the right answer to these
two questions, a vast deal of uncertainty seems to
prevail in the minds of people in general. Now, if
we take into consideration that there are, as I
believe, somewhere about a hundred and fifty species
of trefoils, some being perennials and some annuals,
and that the colour of the flowers varies from dark
crimson, and sometimes scarlet, to purple on the
one hand, and to white, cream-colour, and pale
yellow on the other, it will be perceived that it is
somewhat a difficult task to point out accurately
which may be the said "true Shamrock." Of
course, any one species would do as well as another
to illustrate the doctrine of the "Trinity," and as
far as that goes, there need be no preference given
to one especial kind at all. I remember, when re-
siding in England some years ago, having a small
plant sent over from Ireland by a friend, of what
he termed true Shamrock (we had plenty of what,
to my uninitiated eyes, looked like shamrock grow-
ing on the lawn), — that, however, he called clover.
Great care being taken of this true shamrock ; the
result was that in about three weeks it could not
be identified from the clover above mentioned.
Since then I liave doubted the propriety of singling
out any one kind of trefoil as the veritable sham-
rock of St. Patrick. — J. S. William Durham.

Berries or Arbutus. — A fact in vegetable
Teratology of which we have seen no notice, not in
Dr. Masters's volume for instance, is presented by
the little Arbutus (so called) with mucronate leaf,
often cultivated in gardens. In early summer its red
berries, whilst yet on the plant, will be found, when
they are opened, to have their seeds in a growing
state ; that is, each one with green leaflets as well
as radicle. — R. G.

New Fungi.— On the 6th of April I again met
with the new Badhamia {B. capsulifer, B.), and I
hope in a few weeks to meet with more of it, when
I shall have pleasure in supplying any of my friends
with specimens, as far as I can. Mr. Cooke's
description, from Berkley's "Outlines of Badhamia,"
is as follows :— " Peridium naked or furfuraceous ;
spores in groups, enclosed at first in a hyaline sac."
With the exception of a Badhamia on Jungerman-
nia, which I have never met with, all others hereto-
fore known to be British, have been found on wood.

114

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

The new one is to be found on the under-side of the
leaf of PetasUes vulgaris, known in this district as
Butter-burr, and in some parts of the country is
called wild rhubarb. The other new fuugus
referred to in Science-Gossip last month, and
which I found at Chelford, Cheshire, 1 don't expect
to meet with until mid- winter. I may add that I
found Uromyces ficaruv and ^cidium ranuncula-
cearum on the 25 th March ; these dates being un-
usually early. — Thomas Bnttain.

GEOLOGY.

New Fossil Butterfly. — The American Natu-
ralist for March states that Mr. S. H. Scudder has
discovered a new genus of fossil butterfly from Aix,
which was deposited in the Marseilles Museum.
The name giveu to it "is Sati/rites lieynessii. The
specimen consists mainly of the two fore wings,
the venatioa of which is very distinct. This but-
terfly is of the foi'ui and has the general appear-
ance of Portlandia, although it is more nearly
related to the East-Indian genus Debis. Butterflies
allied to Indian species have been found fossilized
in the miocene beds of Croatia.

FRA.NCE DURING THE JuRASSIC PERIOD. — M.

Saporta has come to the conclusion, from a careful
examination of the fossil plants of the Oolitic or
Jurassic epoch in France, included cquisetums,
ferns, conifers, and cycads, that that country en-
joyed a mean temperature of 25° Centigrade —
nearly the same as that now prevailing in tropical
countries.

Fossil Fish in Palestine,— Under the above
heading, a correspondent (G. F. Warner) in last
month's Science-Gossip, quotes a passage from an
early history of the Crusades, descriptive of a stone
from the neighbourhood of ancient Sidon, which in-
closed a' fossil fish ; and he wishes to knovir whether
there is modern evidence as to sucii remains being
still found in Palestine. It will interest him, and
possibly some of your readers, to know that the
evidence is abundant and conclusive that many
genera and species of fossil fishes abound in the
rocks of the Lebanon. They have been figured
and described by many authors, but chiefly by
De Blainville, Agassiz, Kotschy, Keckel, Pictet,
Humbert, Egerton, and others. The fossils are
found in a limestone, which is easily split in the
direction of its bedding, and it is referred to the
Lower Cretaceous period. In nearly every layer
a scale, or a bone, or a fish, in a more or less
perfect state of preservation, may be found. The
colour of the stone is yellowish ; tliat of the organic
remains (which include some sm.all Crustacea as
well as fish) is a rich reddish-brown. Examples are
far from uncommon in which the profile of the fish,
with the l)ones and the fln-rays in their normal

position, are most perfectly conserved ; and occa-
sionally groups of many individuals occur. Among
the species arc representatives of three "of the four
orders of fishes as founded by Agassiz ; viz., Placoid,
Ctenoid, and Cycloid; and probably among the un-
described species, of which there are several, a
Ganoid may be discovered. More than fifty well-
authenticated species have been described ; those
belonging to the Cycloid order are the most
numerous, there being no less than nine species of
Clupea or Herring. Specimens have for many years
been preserved in public museums and in some
private collections, both at home and abroad. The
British Museum possesses a fair collection of tliese
remains, among which is exhibited a specimen pre-
sented long ago to that institution by the eccentric
Lady Hester Stanhope, who resided for many years
in the Lebanon ; and also some fine examples, some
being new forms, from a large series collected by
the B,ev. H. B. Tristram during his scientific explo-
rations in Syria and Palestine. If your correspon-
dent desires further information respecting this
subject, I would refer him to Pictet and Humbert's
" Nouvelles Recherches sur les Poissons Fossiles du
Mont Liban," 1866, where he will find a summary
of all that has been written relating to it.— 7/''. D.

American Mastodon. — An interesting dis-
covery has recently been made in the vicinity of
Jauiestown, New York. The remains of a skeleton
of Mastodon giganteus was found imbedded in a
post-tertiary deposit of peat and marl. The tusks
were estimated to be twelve feet in length before
they were much disturbed or broken. What is
singular is, that, in proximity to the visceral cavity,
a mass of undigested food, eight or nine bushels in
quantity," was met with. The food consisted of
shoots and .twigs of pines and firs. The height of
the skeleton is judged to have been fifteen feet,
and its length seventeen or eighteen feet. It had
six teeth, the largest of which weighed five pounds
and a half.

New Fossil Fish. — Sir Philip Egerton has
just described a new genus of fossil fish from the
lias of Lyme Regis,' to which i. he has given (he
name Prognathodus. Dr. Giinther is of opinion
that in its dentition it establishes an additional
piece of evidence in favour of the connection between
the Ganoid and Chimseroid forms.

A New Fossil Bird.— Prof. Marsh has de-
scribed the skeleton of a large fossil bird, stand
ing at least five feet high, which he met with in the
Upper Cretaceous deposits of Western Kansas.
Although a true bird, it differs widely from any
known recent or even extinct form. The name he
proposes to give to it is Hesperornis regalis. In
many respects, this unique fossil he considers to be
most comprehensive in its relationships.

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

115

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Sandpipers. — ^Ifc is not usual for any sandpipers,
except the Purple Sandpiper, to do what "H. G. R."
describes. — 0.

Sugaring for Noctua.— Will some of the
correspondents of Science-Gossip be kind enough
to advise me how to make the best mixture for
" Sugaring for Noctua " ?— //. Elliott.

EiELD Clubs. — The Leeds Naturalists' Pield
Club and Scientific Association meets every Tues-
day evenino:. Rooms, Leeds Mechanics' Institu-
tion, Cookridge Street. President, Thomas Hick,
B.A., B.Sc. Joint secretaries, James Brodie and
Wm. D. Roebuck.

Golden Eagle in Somersetshire. — It is
worthy of record that a pair of golden eagles were
seen some years since in the extreme west of
Somerset, above Porlock. One of tiiem was killed
on Oare Common, near Badgworthy Wood; and
this bird, preserved and mounted, is now in the
possession of Mr, Snow, of Oare. — /. Gifforcl,
Parks, Miuehead.

Erratum.— In "Canine Gyrations," page 53,
eight lines from the bottom, instead of the words
" may perhaps," read " can scarcely." — E. C. L.

House Plies and Blow-flies (p. Oi). — 1 take
leave to doubt the assertion that, either in England
or New Zealand, the former species would in any
way assist in exterminating the latter. Where one
is abundant, it may sometimes happen that the
other is scarce or absent ; but, frequently enough,
both are numerous and annoying at the same time.
How shoukl one affect the otiier ? Their larvae
feed upon different substances ; M. domestica
breeds in dung and stable refuse, while its relative,
M. vovtitoria, is, as all know, a meat-devourer.
The blow-fly, however, has its insect enemies ;
and amongst them is, I think, a parasite of the
Dipterous order, whose history I have read, but
cannot at this moment refer to. — /. R. S. C.

The Clione. — I have carefully investigated
oyster-shells, stones, &c., and find similarly sized
cavities in stones, and as clustered as in oyster-
shells. There is invariably, on close examination,
to be found a shell, in some stage of development,
in the tunnel, as far as my observation goes. I
go against the theory that tlie sponges bore for
themselves. I have found this shell as small as
a butterfly's egg in the tunnels both of limestone
rock and oyster-shells. — 0. E. B.

A Suggestion. — Having seen in Science-
Gossip several complaints of the inaccui'acy of
Local Ploras, Botanists' Guides, &c. &c., I think
the following (if practicable) would be a remedy.
To form a botanical club or society, with a re-
corder to keep the lists of localities sent, &c. ; and,
when complete, to have them published. I think
that a great number of botanists in all parts of
Great Britain would be willing to give aid to such
a plan. I should like to hear the opinions of other
correspondents on this subject, through the medium
of this journal. — /. B. Bloio.

Himenophyllum Tunbiudgense. — In the
March number of Science-Gossip, Mr. R. M.
Middleton says tliat he kuov.-s a locality for this
fern not far from Llauberis. I find tlie following

in Davies's "Welsh Botanology," page 99 (pub-
lished 1813); — "//. Ttinbridgense ■ Y\\mY.\&&VQdi
Pern. At Trewilmot and Holyhead mountain ;
very scarce." It would be interesting to know
whether it is to be found in those localities now or
not. — Bev. JF. Davies.

Clothes Moths.— I should feel greatly obliged by
your informing me how to destroy thoroughly the tiny
moths that eat woollen garments. I have suffered
a wholesale destruction of coats, trousers, flannel
shirts, &c., that has driven me, a very poor man, to
the verge almost of madness. I liave tried cam-
phor, insect-powder, pepper, &e, ; but all in vain.
What can I do to save the remnant of my clothing
that may be yet left to me, for I hardly dare to
examine my clothes ? Being short of boxes, I kept
these garments mostly in bags that originally
brought coffee or rice to England ; but they have
entered my two boxes even. I have caught and
killed hundreds of these {Tinea, I think they are
called) in only a week during last summer and
autumn.— TT. I\I. 31.

Endromis versicolor. — In the March issue of
Science - Gossip, an article appears on " Web-
weaving Caterpillars," and among those instanced,
is that of Endromis versicolor (the Kentish Glory-
moth). I should like to ask the writer (C. Lovekin)
whether he so terms this larva from personal obser-
vation, and if not, whence his authority ? During
a series of years I reared hundreds of the larvae and
distributed thousands of the eggs, yet never saw the
least approach to web-weaving ; indeed its habits
are directly opposed to that theory. When hatched,
the young larvae are black ; they proceed at once to
station themselves oa the twigs of the Birch, in a
position so as closely to resemble the small black
stumps so numerous on that food-plant. After
their first moult they are green, and it is then al-
most impossible to distinguish them from the cat-
kins of the Birch ; when more advanced in growth,
they resemble the developed leaves _ in colour and
contour : tlms protection by assimulation is afforded,
and. web-spinning is not only unnecessary but would
be contrary to the usual economy of nature. A
life history of this insect may be found in the
Entomologist for April, 1865, page ISi. — George
Gascoyne.

Hybernation of Swallows. — Prom time to
time there have appeared, in Science-Gossip, papers
on the supposed Hybernation of sv/allows, whether
above or beneath the water. The followhig incident
may perhaps throw light on the origin of some of
the ideas current on this subject. In the early part
of the year 18-43 I was residing at Great Glcnham, in
Sufiblk. One morning about the beginning of March,
I was told that a swallow had been seen coming
out of a pond near our house. _ I expressed my dis-
belief in the correctness of this information, but was
assured that there could be no mistake. Some days
afterwards our gardener came to me in triumph, and
told me that he had brought me the swallow, which
had been found dead near the pond where it had be-
fore been seen. On taking it in my hand, I saw at
once, from its webbed feet, that it was a storm petrel
{Thalassidroma pelagica or T. LeacJiii) ; but, being
quite a boy at the time, I was not then aware that
there was more than one species. I must confess
that, at first sight, it looked very like a swallow, and
I should not have been surprised had the mistake
been made by far better observers. Doubtless the
poor bird had been driven inland by a violent gale,

116

HAUDWICKE'S SCIENCE- GOSSTP.

with which we had been visited a few days previ-
ously, and had rested on the pond until disturbed
by our informant. Had not the bird been found,
the rising of the swallow from the pond would have
seemed incapable of satisfactory explanation. —
E. N. BloomMd.

Do Animals ever Commit Suicide ? In support
of the theory of your correspondent " J. U. S. C,"
viz., that animals do sometimes commit suicide
whilst in a state of insanity, I may call attention
to the following incident of indubitable veracity
recorded in Jesse's "Anecdotes of Dogs :" — "A
fine, handsome, and valuable black dog of the New-
foundland species, belonging to Mr. Eloyd, solici-
tor, Holmfirth, committed suicide by drowning it-
self in the river which flows at the back of its
owner's habitation. Eor some days previous the
animal seemed less animated than usual, but on
this particular occasion he was noticed to throw
himself into the water and endeavoured to sink by
preserving perfect stillness of the legs and feet.
Being dragged out of the stream, the dog was tied
up for a time, but had no sooner been released tlian
he again hastened to the water and again tried to
sink, and was again got out. This occurred many
times, until at length tlic animal, with repeated
efforts, appeared to get exhausted, and by dint of
keeping his head determinedly under water for a
few minutes, succeeded at last in obtaining his
object, for when taken out this time he was in-
deed dead."— ^. A. Auld.

The Sword-fish (p. 71).— My attention has
been fully directed to the subject named by
*'E. H. R.," and I concur with him in the opinion
that the reverend gentleman who wrote the article
alluded to has fallen into a very grave misap-
pi'ehension. The fish which he d.escribes as the
Xiphias gladins, I take to be a species of sea-
pike : the small specimens found on our coast are
known as Gar-fish {gar, A.-S., "spear, pike, or
javelin"). It was formerly classed with the Jack,
as Esox belone ; Cuvier named it Beloiie vulgaris,
but it is now described as Lepidosteus luc'ms ;
Lepidosteus, from its liaid scales ; lucius (pike)
being a misnomer, derived from the Fleur-de-lis, or
White Lily of Erance. Two species may be seen at
the British Museum and the College of Surgeons ;
viz., L. lucius, the Gar-fish, and Z. osseus, the Bony
Pike; the latter is, probably.Hhe fish figured in the
Leisure Hour for J anuai'y, the woodcut in question
being altogether unsuited for the true Sword-fish
(A', gladius), or for the Saw-fish {Pristis anti-
quorum). — J. Hall.

Flea-bites ! — The extraordinary amount of
irritation and swelling which these occasion in
some instances can hardly be accounted for on the
supposition that this bite is a simple incision. In
Science-Gossip of last year, an interesting account
was given of the tongue and lancets of the flea ;
but 1 cannot help thinking there is something
which the microscopic investigator has missed as
yet; viz., some gland or other apparatus which
yields a poisonous fluid, that is thrown into the
puncture. If there is anything of the kind, it
must be exceedingly potent, since the supply of it
cannot be large, and a flea will leap hither and
thither upon the human skin, biting a dozen times
in quick succession, each bite being followed by
the usual result. From a friend whose experiences
in this direction are particularly painful, I glean
the fact that the bite of what is (presumabljO the

male flea, or at least the smaller individual, is most
to be dreaded.—/. R. S. C.

Mice and Birds. — In reply to your correspond-
ent " Tedesca's " question, I beg to state that one
night, a few weeks since, I observed one of ray
birds, a linnet, which was ill, roosting near the
lower part of my aviary. The following morning it
was found dead, and partially devoured by the
mice. During the summer of 1870 I missed one
of my hen canaries from the food-troughs, and, on
examining the nest-box where she had been sitting,
I found nothing but a mass of feathers, with
scarcely a vestige of the poor bird amongst them :
the mice had eaten all, even the bones, beak, and
claws I Whether these birds were living or dead
when the mice attacked them, remains of course an
open question, but I have every reason to think
that they have destroyed numbers of unfledged
canaries in the nests. Can any one suggest a plan
to prevent their entrance into aviaries and large
cages ?— Z". M. P.

Fungi. — I shall esteem it a great favour if any of
your correspondents who have had experience in
preserving fungi will kindly inform me of the best
mode of preparing them for the cabinet. — H. A.
Auld.

New Fungi.— Allow me to correct an error
which appeared in the last number of Science-
Gossip, p. 90, in reference to Perichtena quercina, E.,
found by Mr. T. Brittain. It was not 1 who identi-
fied the plant, but C. E. Broome, Esq., to whom I
sent it, being myself unable to identify it. This may
appear a trivial matter ; but when a gentleman takes
the trouble to identify a plant, it is out just that he
should have the credit for so doing. — William
Phillips.

Wood-Pigeons. — The turnip tops found in the
crops of the Wood-pigeons are precisely what might
have been expected, the green leaves and shoots of
the turnip forming their favourite winter food.
These are varied with clover-leaves in the spring ;
later on, seeds of the dock, chickweed, charlock, and
other " pests of the farm." About harvest time, the
above, with the addition of wheat and barley ; after
harvest, acorns and beech-mast, of which they are
very fond. There is no doubt Wood-pigeons will
feed on corn when they 'can get it ; but their
opportunities for harm are limited, for good unlim-
ited ; and the immense quantities of noxious weeds
destroyed by them, at all seasons of the year, far
outweigh the harm done, at certain seasons, in
places where they unduly viktGxxw^.— Tlws.Soiithwell.

ViTRiNA pellucida. — It is very probable that
those who assert that the Vitrina is incapable of
wholly withdrawing into its shell, and those who
assert to the contrary, are both right. My own
observations lead me to believe, that when the
Vitrina is found in a moist condition, no amount
of irritation or force employed can make it with-
draw itself entirely within its shell; but if put in a
dry place, and left without moisture, it is then
capable of shrinking entirely within the shell, so
as to enable it to fit the mouth of the shell to any
flat surface it may be attached to. Having kept a
couple of Geomalacus maculosus for a few months
under a bell-glass, and having introduced a few
Vitrina pellucida under the same cover, I was
surprised to find the Vitrina shells empty in a few
days : this led me to believe that the Vitrina had

IIARDWICKK'S SClEx\CE-GOSSlP,

117

become a prey to the Geomalacus. Since then I
liave introduced more Viiriua^, and a few of the
following species : — Zonites glaber, Z. mtidulus,
Z. punts, Z. cnjstallbms, two Helix ftisca, two
H. caperuta, two H. Jiirsuta, and three Clausilia
lamiHat(i,yi\{\\ the following results : all the shells
representing the genus Helix are empty, with the
shells more or less scraped away and perforated ; all
the Vitrina shells are empty, but left perfect ; and
some few of the Z. purus and Z. crystallinus are
tenantless. The Clausilia and the other two species
of Zonites remain untouched. Whether all these
may have fallen victims to the rapacity of Geoma-
lacus maculosus, may be questionable, but I would
suggest that the probable cause of your last
month's correspondent from Banbury finding so
many of the Vitrina shells empty, might be owing
tojthe ravages of the black slug, Arion ater, and its
congener the Arion hortemis. Experiments carefully
observed would no doubt determine this point.
Allow me to say further, that in my experiment
with the Geomalacus I added occasionally a piece
of carrot, which seemed to suit the taste of this
rare Irish slug ; also a dead shell of Succinea pnlris
has been nearly eaten away. — Thos. Rogen.

Does the Moon affect Lunatics ? — Could you
inform me in what way the moon affects lunatics ?
Having heard that it did, and being unable to find it
in any book, I should be glad if you could inform
me through Science-Gossip. — R. P. U.

Sparus.— On the 15th ult. a fisherman of Helford
harbour brought to me a Sparus boijps, which he
had just caught in a herring-net. It was twelve
inches in length and two inches in depth. The
silvery gleam of the body and of its yellow stripes
was most brilliant ; there were patches as of bur-
nished gold in front of the eyes. The first British
recorded specimen was caught near the entrance of
Ealmouth harbour in J 842, and was brought to my
brother, Alfred Pox, who had a coloured drawing
of it taken, of which Jonathan Couch published a
copy in his valuable book on British fishes. It is
a more faithful representation of this beautiful fish
than that given by Bloch. Dr. Cocks, of Ealmouth,
sent a Boops, caught at a later period (in the same
fishing-ground), to the British Museum. I have
often seen this fish in the market of Algiers. The
Sword-fish is justly esteemed there ; its flesh is, I
think, preferable to that of other Scomberidse ; such
as the Thunny or Mackerel. It probably swallows
the blood and other juices of the fish that it wounds,
as it is almost toothless. Its ear-bones must be
very minute or rudimentary, as I could not discover
any. — C. Fcx.

The Swokd-fish.— The author of the article
"Notes from fliL; South Pacific," in the Leisure
Hour for January, has not, in my opinion, " ialleu
into error in describing the Saw-fish as the Sword-
iish ; "at the same time, I have not seen a sword-
fish with the saw-like teeth which are figured in
the cuts illustrating his paper. The Saw-fish
(Prisiis aniiquorum), length in some instances, 12 to
15 feet (a specimen of which is in my posses-
sion), is of the Shark family, and has its head pro-
longed by a long flat plate, bearing osseous spines
inaplanted like teeth on each margin, and resem-
bling a saw. The specimen before me measures 34
inches in leujrth, and has 26 teeth on each side, each
tooth being U inch long. It was found in a river
in Demerara. Your correspondent " E. H. H." is
certainly right in saying it would be impossible for

the Saw-fish to penetrate the timbers of vessels with
his saw" although it is a powerful weapon to
attack whales and other cetaceous animals ; whereas
the Sword-fish is a well-known enemy to ships, one
of these "swords" being found, some years'ago
sticknig to the depth of eighteen inches in the
lovyer timbers of Her Majesty's sliip Fawn. The
writer in tlie Leisure Hour says the fish he describes
has been pronounced "delicious" food bv all who
have tasted it ; moreover the flesh of the Saw-fisA is
hard and lU-tasted. Upon the whole, it is clear that
the hsli described in the Leisure Hour whatever
species of sword-fish it may be, is not the Sawfish.—
H. Allinuham.

Fossils. — A correspondent in last month's
bciENCE- Gossip asks for information relative to
corn-brash and forest marble fossils in the West of
England. In answer thereto, I beg to state that in
a little work published by Stanford, of Charin»
Cross, entitled "Geology of Weymouth and the Isle
ot 1 ortland,_ there is a good deal of interesting
matter relating to the above, with list of fossils"
&c.— 1*. W.

Ekimstone Butterfly.— There is a variety of
this species with orange-coloured patches in the
lore wings, which occurs in Prance. Possibly it is
a specimen of this variety to which Mr. H. Moore
refers in his note in last month's Science-Gossip.
A hybrid between two such widely separated species
as Gonepteryx Rhanmi and Colias Edusa would be
most unlikely to occur.— ffarri/ Leslie.

A White Brimstone (p. 95). —I scarcely believe
Mr. Moore is justified in imagining that the butterfly
referred to is a hybrid between G. Rhamni and C.
Edusa, since this variety of the Brimstone and the
typical form have both been reared from the same
batch of eggs. This variety is occasionally met with.
In the south of Europe a variety is met witli called
G. Cleopatra, in which the orange patches cover
nearly the whole of the upper wings.— /T. H.
Warner, Kingston, Abingdon.

Passion-flower.— I liave been told that the pas-
sion-flower was used in the early Christian churches
as a symbolic reveration of faith, because of the
resemblance discovered by some of the Catholic
fathers in difi"erent portions of the flower to our
Saviour's passion. Thus : the five anthers are the
wounds ; the stigmas represent the nails ; the rays
of the corona, the crown of thorns ; and the ten
parts of the perianth are apostles ; Peter and Juda
being absent— the one who betrayed, the other who
denied our Lord.— if. E. Watney.

Starlings.— These birds, like swallows, are
migratory birds. In the northern parts of this
country, where the winters are severe, the Starling,
on the approach of the cold season, wings its flight
southward, returnmg to its old haunts about Febru-
ary or (if the season be inclement) March. In the
south of England, during mild winters, they will
often remain. At Charminster, a pretty little Dorset
village, we had frequently the Starling all the year
round, unless a very severe season set in, and then
we missed them for a short time. The country
people in Dorset are very fond of starling dumplings;
and they are often sold for a shilling a dozen by the
labourers. The chief winter food of starlings con-
sists of berries of all descriptions ; such as moun-
tain ash, haws, and grain. A gentleman of my
acquaintance used to make quite a friendship with a

118

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

colony of starlings which dwelt on the eaves of a
neighbouring house. During the summer time, when
the cherries were ripe, he used to lay some on his
window-sill, and, being an invalid, it used to pass
many a weary hour pleasantly away, watching his
pet starlings. During the two years of his confine-
ment, those birds became quite tame and sociable,
really looking out for their dessert and their hand-
ful of coni, which was daily placed for them. One
day a friend sent him some starlings for a dumpling,
when he remarked he would ns soon think of turning
cannibal as eating any of those poor starlings, for
they had beguiled many a sad and painful hour, and
their voices were heard first in the morning, and
their cheerful chatter was his lullaby at eve. I do
not fancy I could relish them myself, altliough I be-
lieve they are very savoury. — Barbara Wallace Fyfe.

The Stabling.— In reply to " H. 0. S.," the
Starling is resident in England throughout tlie
year, and is probably also a partial migrant. In
mild winters, the old birds sometimes continue to
frequent the trees or buildings where they nest.
Their food consists almost entirely of earthworms,
snails, insects and their larva?, with an occasional
seed or berry ; but these form the exception. In
autumn they congregate in immense flocks, which
repair night after night to the same roostiug-
place. These flocks begin to assemble as soon as
the first broods leave their nests, and go on in-
creasing with successive broods till they are, later
in the season, joined by old birds also. Early in
the morning they disperse to their feeding-grounds,
again to return with the setting sun to their
chosen resting-place. — T. Southwell.

Collection Catalogues.— I observe, among
the advertisements in Science-Gossip, an an-
nouncement of the publication of a printed form of
catalogue, prepared by Mr. Harting. It is no
doubt a useful plan, but it does not fully explain
itself. Will some one who has experience in
cataloguing explain how he would set about to
make a catalogue of a collection of say 2,000
botanical specimens, supposing that the specimens
have already the necessary particulars attached to
each, but not collected in a book, and that the
collection is still rapidly increasing in all depart-
ments, phanerogamic and cryptogamic ? It is easy
enough to write out a catalogue of a completed
collection, either alphabetically or in the order of
classification ; the difliculty lies in dealing with the
additions, so as to avoid future confusion. Is there
any better plan than the day-book and ledger ; that
is, to enter every addition consecutively in one
book, with a consecutive number to each, and
afterwards post them into a fully classified cata-
logue ? This plan is cumbersome and slow. — F. T.
Mott.

Does Gas-light kill Plants?— I should be
glad if some of your able correspondents would
inform nic whether gas, or the gas-light, kills
plants? It is commonly supposed it does, but I
should think wrongly, as the gas given ott' must
form nourishment rather than otherwise. — F. T.

Mites.— A neighbour last summer requested the
writer to inspect his daughter's house, as it was,
especially the drawing-room, which had been lately
newly furnished, infested with a very minute
species of mite. So extreme was the nuisance,
that the maker of the furniture had been sent for
from a town a long way off to examine it, and even

an action seemed not unlikely. Though the little
pest was scarcely visible to the naked eye, the
edges of the moreen curtains, the chair-bottoms,
the iusides of the piano and chiffonier, as well as
other parts of the house and furniture, were quite
white with them. I recommended the best means
I could think of to destroy them, — ventilation,
brushing, fumigation with sulphur, the use of
carbolic acid, &c. The only other way, besides
through the medium of the furniture, in which
they were suspected to have been imported, was in
a box of C^s. The acarus was extremely hairy,
pointed in front, and gibbous beiiiud ; but I send
jnouuted specimens, which may be given to any-
body who takes an interest in the mites. — B. G.

Lesser Pettychap, ok, CiiirF-ciiAFF {Sylvia
Mppolais). — The early appearance of this lively little
warbler is recorded on p. 93, by Mr. Westropp, who
noticed it on March 9th. Six days later it was
chirping in a shrubbery close to this house. Now,
are there not good grounds for believing that this
little bird does not migrate, since it has shown itself
able to bear the severe frosts and heavy snows which
prevailed since its arrival ? It stays later than the
otiier small emigrants, for I heard it in the woods last
year so late as the second week in October. I am
no believer in the hybernation of birds, but I have
long had an idea that this species does not leave this
country at all, but retires in winter to sheltered
spots in woods, where it picks up a subsistence from
the trunks and branches of trees, like the tits
and other small birds. The disuse of its song, and
its small size, would render it very unlikely to be
noticed by ordinary observers. While on the early
appearance of birds of passage, I may state that the
Blackcap {Cnrruca atricapilld) has been in full song
here since the 30th of March, and that I noticed
three sand-martins {Hirundo njoana) about their old
haunts the following day. — W. H. Warner.

Paste Eels.— With some others I have often
been troubled to procure these creatures, though
carefully following the directions of the books. At
others, I have found them abundantly in paste
which has been put away and not touched. I have
often seen it stated that some peculiar ears of corn,
when soaked a short time, will abound with eels in
the grains ; and if so, may not the difficulty some
persons find in getting them, proceed from the flour
not having any of these particular corns ground up
with it? As to their "spontaneous generation," I
believe they arc generated one from another, as is
evident in the eggs and young ones. — E. T. S.

Paste Eels.— I have tried "F. K.'s"plan for
obtaining A. glutinis several times, and I have not
succeeded once. The following is a better (at any
rate cleaner) way of preserving tiiem when they ap-
])ear than "E. K.'s." I copy it from Dr. Jabez Hogg's
work on the microscope. He says: "The best
means of securing a supply for any occasion, consists
in allowing any portion of a mass of paste in which
they show themselves, to dry up, and then lay it by
for stock ; if at any time a portion of this is intro-
duced into a little fresh-made paste, and the whole
kept warm and moist for a \&\i days, it will be
found to swarm with these curious little worms." —
W, Sargant, Junior.

Paste Eels. — My little random shot has induced
"P. K." to shelter himself behind Mr. Pritchard, and
thus brougiit me face to face with a giant ; but the
little wrigglers in question,haviug beenmyoccasiona.

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

119

pets for more than forty years, I may, perhaps, be
allowed to indulge a little obstinacy in holding my
opinion still. I am compelled to notice this subject
again, because " F. K." has become catechist. I
leave my unknown questioner to guess for himself,
assuring him, at the same time, that my little scraps
of scientific knowledge induce me to attribute
"Apostolic succession" alike to cats, rats, mice,
and — Paste Eels ; and to the belief that there is a
much greater difference between " Paste Eels " and
' Wheat Eels " than there is between a slieep and a

goat.

-A. Nicholson.

The Eumine in Nokth Wales (p. 71). — Your
correspondent " W. P." is, it seems, unaware that
the Ermine is in reality the Stoat in its winter
dress. This animal, like the Scotch or varying
hare [Lepiis-variahilis), turns white in winter. The
change from brown to white is more apparent in
Northern Europe, but I have myself seen a speci-
men of the Mustela erminea hanging up in a wood
here which was quite white, except a tinge of
brown along the back. The M. erminea, whether
in its summer or winter dress, whether as a stoat
or an ermine, may easily be distinguished by the tip
of the tail being always black. — W. H. Warner.

The Ermine. — I believe the cause of the con-
fusion is that the majority of stoats do not, in this
comparatively mild climate, fully change their coat
in winter. They are seldom pure white. — G. E. E.

The Ermine in North Wales (p. 71).— It
would seem probable that the discrepancy in ques-
tion may be due to the comparative mildness of our
climate, and the exceptional mildness of the past
winter. It appears quite certain that the change
observed in i the fur of our stoat, the Ihtstela
erminea, is a result of the effect of severe cold. As
a boy I was familiar with the Stoat in farms at the
south of England, but I never met with it in what
is called its winter coat. The finest ermine comes
from northern latitudes. If all our stoats were
found to produce the fur called ermine in perfec-
tion, no doubt we should cultivate the trade for our
home market. — A. H.

Rats at St. Helena. — A gentleman who has
passed many years of his life at St. Helena, told
me lately several stories about rats, so curious
that I thought them worthy of record. He said
that at one time the common brown rat was ex-
tremely common all over the island, in fact, a per-
fect pest ; and to avoid its attacks his father had
constructed a large store, rat-proof ; i.e., a rat once
in could not get out again. A number, however,
came in with produce and goods from the ships, and
bred there. Around this store were Venetian blinds
to the windows, and one day one of his men, when
it was raining, watched a rat sitting on the Venetian,
and putting out his tail to collect on it the drippings
of water at the edge : he then withdrew it and
licked it. The servant told his master, who imme-
diately understood that the rats could get no water
inside the store, and therefore directed that a but-
ter firkin should be cut down to four or five inches,
and in the top a large circular wire rat-cage trap
should be fixed. Several small planks were placed
for the rats to get up to the entrance to the cage,
which exactly fitted the firkin. No food would
have induced the rats to enter the trap, but water
did, and many were thus captured. When caught
they were given to the dogs ; but there was one rat
which would not leave the trap for many days. He

was well identified day by day, till, becoming in-
cautious, he leapt down, and was immediately killed.
There is one peculiarity with these rats, viz., their
very often building or making their nests in the
trees. I have in India several times found rats'
nests in trees ; but then they have always been stolen
nests, such as deserted abodes of the squirrel or
sparrow ; but here my friend, who is no naturalist,
tells _mc that they construct them principally of
fir spines, on the ends of the boughs, some twelve or
fifteen feet from the ground, in the common fir-trees.
The spots selected are just where the overlapping
bough nearly meets the lower one. He said that
all know the rats' nests, and that he had seen them
fired at, when many rats were killed, and fell out to
the ground. He could tell me no more, and I think
that, if original nests, as he held them to be, some
grass must be woven in during their construction,
as fir spines have but little power of cohesion.
The situation of these nests was worthy of notice,
although there is scarcely a situation where a rat's
nest has not been found.— C. Home, F.Z.S.

Gryllfs viRiDissMrs. — I am sorry I cannot at
present render much assistance to "E.A.M." (p. 59).

1 have occasionally kept these large green grass-
hoppers for a few days : they never voluntarily at-
tempted to eat anything ; but when a fly, stuck on
the point of a needle, was held near the mouth, they
would readily take and eat it. If possible, next
summer I intend to study this insect more minutely :
the larva is very pretty, and a brighter green colour
than is the perfect insect. — C. G, R.

LiPARis dispar.— At p. 69 Mr. Laddiman ex-
presses a desire for information respecting this in-
sect. I have reared several broods (" in-and-in ") ;
in 1870 my moths were very fine, most of them, both
males and females, were as large as those figured
by Mr. Newman. I have this day carefully
measured a female in my collection, and find it to
be, from tip to tip of the expanded wings, two inches
and three-quarters, which is exactly equal to the
figure in " British Moths." Measuring a male in
the same manner, I find he exceeds Mr. Newman's
by one-twentieth of an inch. Last summer my
Z. dispar were not so fine, but I believe this was
owing to the unfavourable season, as several other
species were comparatively small. I have not met
with much variety in L, dispar; the principal varia-
tion consists in the general ground-colours, most
observable in the female, some being of a creamy,
while otliers are of an ashy-white tint, with the
blackish wavy lines more or less developed. Al-
though my moths were not so large, they were well
marked last year, and the males displayed more .
variety than usual, the upper wings of some ap-
proaching to a sandy-brown colour, and others were
quite dark or cinerous. I have a few eggs of L. dispar
to part with. If Mr. Laddiman or Mr. Henderson
would like to have some of this strain, I shall be
most happy to oblige them. The Editor has my
address, and will kindly furnish it if required.—
C. G. R.

How TO Stock a Pond.— Will one or other of
your experienced readers give me some hints for
stocking with fish a newly-made lake of water con-
sisting of about two acres ? The depth averages

2 feet 9 inches, with several holes of deeper water.
The bottom is gravelly. There is a constantly run-
ning spring, but not very rapid. What fish should I
put in with a view to angling ? Would it be any use
to try trout? Where should I obtain a supply of
fish for the purpose ? — F. C.

120

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

E. W.— The larva is that of Meloe angusticoUis. For a full
account of this and other parasites on the bee, see article in
SciBNCR-Gossip for 1870, pages 2 and 3, entitled " The Para-
sites of the Honey Bee," by Dr. A. S. Packard.

Enquirer.— We have received the piece of pnmmed paper
said to contain specimens of mites. We do not undertake to
name specimens unless sent in a fit state for examination.
We cannot ask those gentlemen (all of whom are authorities
in their special departments) who kindly undertake to assist
us, to prepare specimens for examination. It is also neces-
sary that the sender should furnish us with all the informa-
tion as to habitat, &c., he is able to give. We are always
anxious to assist the student in natural history, but he must
also put his own shoulder to the wheel.

L. T.— The moss is the commonest that grows, the Screw
Wall-moss {Turlulamuralis).

Kkw Subscriber.— Answer next month.

Ignoramus.— The small larvie- cases found on espalier
apple-tree are those of Culeophas anutipentmlla.

A. L., Scarborough.— You will find Stark's " British Moss-
es" (Lovell Reeve & Co.), price 7s- 6d., a capital introduc-
tory book to the study of mosse.o, containing a good number
of coloured illustrations.

R. De I>.— The jelly-like substance adhering to leaves is
probably the ova of some species of shell-fish, perhaps of
Limnea. It is not the common stickleback, which builds a
nest.

Richard Smith, Belper. — Tissues may be placed in the
carmine staining fluid as soon as cut, unless maceration in
glycerine is requisite to soften them. You will find all the in-
formation required for staining the various tissues in Dr.
Beales's" How to work with the Microscope."

Unscientific Astronomer.— There is a society called the
" Observing Astronomical Society," different from the Royal
Astronomical Society. The Hon. Secretary's name is Wil-
liam F. Denning, from whom all information may be obtained.
— Address Messrs. Wyman, 74, Great Queen Street, London.

A. H. A., Liverpool.— The Podurpe in the piece of wall-paper
are Achortttes purpurescens, common in damp places.—
r. J. McI.

B. E. F. — Mineralogy is now included as part of chemistry,
rather than of geology, as was formerly the case. There can
he no doubt that tlie connection between the two former is
far more natural, although mineralogy is of great service to
the geologist, especially in his lithological investigations.

Roy.- You will find a full account of the natural history
position, functions, and habits of the sponges in Nicholson's
" Advanced Text-book of Zoology," or in the " Manual of
Zoology," vol. i., by the same author.

A. Smith. — The parcel of grass sent is the Sweet-scented
\ernaX Gr&is, {Antho.ranthum odoratum). It is the presence of
this grass which gives the well known scent to newly-mown
hay.

A. J. D.— A capital chapter on " Mimicry " will be found in
Wallace's " Contributions to the Theory of Natural Selection."
Bates first broached the doctrine in his " Naturalist on the
Amazon." See article in last number of the Entomological
Magazine on mimicry in insects.

.1. B.—Hypnum commutatttm : a little Anodus will be ac-
ceptable.—/}. B.

EXCHANGES.

Notice.— Only one " Exchange'* can be inserted at a time
by the same individual. The maximum length fexcept for
correspondents not residing in Great Britain) is three lines.
Only objects of Natural History permitted. Notices must be
legibly written, in full, as intended to be inserted.

For Pollen of Convolvulus send stamped directed envelope
to John H. Martin, 86, Week Street, Maidstone.

Foreign Coleoptera offered for British ditto or Lepidoptera.
— W. H. Groser, 15, Thornhill Road, Barnsbury, N.

Twelve varieties of cotton wool (named). Send stamped
envelope and any microscopical material to Levi Tetlow,
Lees, near Manchester.

For Haematopinus stiis (Pig Louse) and Poli/.renus Lugurtis
(Pencil-tail), unmounted, send well-mounted object of interest
to C. F. George, Kirton Lindsey, Lincolnshire.

Badhamia CAPSui.iFKR, the new British leaf-fungus, for
other objects of interest.— Address, with list, Thos. Brittain,
52, Park Street, Green Heys, Manchester.

Sbpiostaire (Cuttle-lione) and Puccinia nmbilici offered
for stamped envelope and any object of Interest.— H. Munro,
Lyme Regis, Dorset.

Wanted, Coal-measure Fossils for Mountain Limestone and
Limestone Shale Fossils.— Send list to S. Borraingham, Arken-
dale, Richmond, Yorks.

A Fossil Tooth in coal (mounted), for any human parasite
also mounted.— J. M. Hoare, The Hill, Harnpstead, London.
Uredo potkntili.arum ; for specimens of this fungus
send stamped envelope to J. R. Focklington, The Oval, Red-
land, Bristol. Any object of interest acceptable.

Wanted to exchange, rooted named specimens of the
rarer Sedums and Saxifrages ; also wanted to purchase, Nos.
from 23 to the conclusion of Sowerby's " Grasses."— Address
J., 3, Bromley Terrace, Cirencester.

Wanted Silkworms or eggs, for British ferns.— J. Stalker,
Brathay, Ambleside.

Toi's LES Mois, the largest known starrli, offered for any
object or material.— Address W. F. Henley, Wilts Dorset
Bank, Warminster.

Wanted, three or four specimens of the Large Stag
Beetle (LucanusCervvs), for dissection, for microscopic slides.
—Address J. S. Harrison, 86, Portland Street, Hull.

Cvclostoma elecans and Helix pomutUi for other British
shells.— B. F. Buxton, Easneyc, Ware.

Wings and sections of British and Foreign Lepidoptera,
named, for other good microscopic material. — Chas. J. Wat-
kins, Painswick, Gloucestershire.

For Hair of Buffalo (unmounted) send stamped envelope
and object of microscopical interest to E. Lovett, Holly
Mount, Croydon.

Collection of Norwich Crag Fossils in exchange for books
on Geology.— G. S. Tooke, King Street, Norwich.

YoK Puccinia Anemonx (Anemone Brand) send stamped
envelope ; no exchange required.— Thos. Brittain, 52, Park
Street, Green Heys, Manchester.

For Parasite of Humble Bee, send stamped envelope and
any microscopic object to J. Sargent, Jun., Fiitchley, near
Derby.

Sections of Uterine Tumour stained with carmine and
mounted in glycerine, in exchange for other equally good ob-
jects.—R. Smith, Jun., Stone House, Belper.

Eggs of Kestrel, Dipper, Water-rail, &c., for eggs of Spar-
rowliawk, Nightjar, Green Woodpecker, &c.— Arthur Smyth,
Parracombe, N. Devon.

Trachea of Centipede or Ox Parasites, in exchange for
well-mounted Polycistina.— H. B. Thomas, 13, Market-place,
Boston, Lincolnshire.

For Cuticle of Cotyledon Umbilicus prepared for the pnlar-
iscope (unmounted), send stamped envelope and any object
of microscopical interest.— W. H. Gomm, Soraerton, Taun-
ton.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

" The American Naturalist." March.

" The Canadian Entomologist." Nos. 2 and 3.

" Annals and Magazine of Natural History." April.

" Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science." April.

" The Journal of Botany." April.

"The Entomologist's Monthly Magazine." April.

" The Zoologist." April.

" Notes on Chalcidire." Part VI. By Francis Walker,
F.L.S. London: E. W. Janson & Co.

" Les Mondes." March.

" Land and Water." Nos. 322, 323.

Timb's "Year-book of Facts for 18"2." London: Lock-
wood & Co.

" Journal of Applied Science."

" Popular Science Review." April.

" lUustrirte Natur Wissenschaft." No. 13.

"Proceedings of the Bristol Naturalist's Society, 18"1,
May to December.

Communications Received up to l.">th April.— R F. W. —
W. J.-J. R. P.-C. H.-G. G.— J. S. H.— W. F. H.— J. H. K.

— J. S.-B. L.-W. W. S.— A. S.-T. C. M.— C. R.-R. G.—
J. M. W.— W. K. F.-S. J. McI.— J. B.— E. T.— B. W. F—R. S.
—A. H. A.-C. F.-J. B.— W. G.-J. H. G.— J. S. W. D.—
R H M.-E. T. S— A. N.~E. N. B.-W. H. W.— H. E.W.-
A. H — E. M. P.— T. G. B— W. B.— T. B.— T. S.— F. K.— J. F.

1 -J. H. M.— W. D. R.— J. M. H.— J. M. C— T. B. B.-S. B.—

R. De L.-J. C. M.— C. R.— M. C. L.— A. L — A. J. D.— W. P.

I — F T. M.— G. E. R.- J. F.— VV. B.— W. H. G.— H. E.— C. L.

— G B. C— G. H.— W. S.— C. F. G.— H. L.— M. E. B.—
G R R.— T. W.— J. R. J.— F. A. P.-E. L.— C. W.-C. J. W.
— H D.— B. G.— B. F. B.— J. S., Jun.— F.— F. J. W.- J. L. C.
— W H. G- G. S. T.— G. H. H.— F. M. M.— H. B. T.— A. L.
—A. S.-T. W.-R. S.— J. S. D.-C. J. W. R.

HxiRDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

121

COLLECTING AND PEESEEVING.

No. V— BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS.

By Dr. Kxaggs.

HE collector of
Lepictopt er a
^ho aspires to
success must
lead the book of
nature as lie
runs. If he have
not the wit to
to account each
little fact which may come un-
der his observation, neither he
nor science will be the better
for his collecting. He should,
whenever he makes a capture,
I'now the reason ichy, or he will
never make a successful hunter.
He should be ever on the alert,
his motto, nunq^iiam clormio.

Some collect for profit,
others for pastime ; but the aim
of our readers, I take it, is not only to acquire a
collection of really good specimens, but also at the
same time to improve their minds ; and the best way
of effecting this purpose is to hunt the perfect
insect, not so much for itself as for the sake of the
golden eggs, which, with proper care and attention,
wi!l in due course yield the most satisfactory results
in tl'.e shape of bred specimens.

This being the case, and space being limited, it
seems best to simply touch upon the preliminary
stages of insect existence, pointing out as we go
those methods of collecting and preserving which
experience has shown to be the most successful.

There can be no doubt but that egg- hunting is a
very profitable occupation, and far more remunera-
tive than mo&t people dream of, particularly as a
means of acquiring the Sphinges, Bombyces, and
Pseudo-bombyces. Eggs, speaking generally, are
to be found on the plants to which the various
species are attached; and a knowledge of the time
during which the species remains ia the esg state,
Mo. 90.

as well as the appearance of the eggs as deposited
in nature, should if possible be acquired previous to
proceeding to hunt. The most practical way of as-
certaining the food and time is to watch the parent
insect in the act of depositing her ova ; but when
the plant has been thus discovered, the best way is
to capture her, and induce her to lay at our homo.
Vriien eggs are inconspicnous, of small dimensions,
or aitfully concealed, the use of a magnify ing-glass
is invaluable.

Eggs may be preserved by plunging them in boil-
ing water or piercing them with a very fine needle,
or they may have their contents squeezed out and
be refilled by means of a fine blowpipe, with some
coagulable tinted fluid ; but the shells themselves,
after the escape of the larva?, form, when mounted,
beautiful objects for the microscope.

The three most successful plans of obtaining cater-
pillars are searching, beating, and sweeping. The
first requires good eyesight and a certain amount of
preparatory knowledge ; the others are a sort of
happy-go-lucky way of collecting, useful enough and
profitable in their way, but affording a very limited
scope for the exercise of the wits. In searching for
larva?, the chief thing is to observe the indications
of their presence. A mutilated leaf, a roughened
bark, a tumid twig, a sickly plant, an unexpanded
bud, an abortive flower, or a windfall fruit, should
at once set us thirking as to the cause; or, agair,
the webs, the silken threads, the burrowings and
trails, or the cast-off skins of larva;, may first call
our attention to tlieir proximity. Of course, larvse
may be found on almost all plants, as well as in the
bark, stems, or wood of many; but the collector
should fortify himself with a knowledge of what
each plant is likely lo produce, and hunt accord-
ingly; for though indiscriminate collecting may
sometimes be successful, it does not tend to improve
the intellectual powers.

Beating is the more applicable method of working
trees and bushes. It is carried out by jarring the

122

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

larvae from their positions by the aid of a stick or
pole, in such a manner that they will fall into an
inverted umbrella or net ; or a sheet may be spread
beneath for their reception. Sweeping with a
strong net, passed from side to side with a mower.
like movement, is better adapted for working low
ground -herbage. The umbrella net, shown in
fig. 75, is, perhaps, the best for this purpose. It is

FJsr- 75, Umbrella Net.

constructed by hinging two lengths of jack-spring
on to two pieces of brass, and adapting them to
the stick of the net, the upper piece of brass being
fixed, the lower movable.

When captured, larvae should be transferred to
chip boxes, or else to finely and freely perforated
tins, the latter better preserving the food. Avery
bandy box for the purpose is formed by fitting a
second lid on to the bottom of a chip box, and then
cutting from the second lid and bottom a hole, as
shown in fig. 76 (2); larvfe may then be inserted
through the hole; but when the lid is shifted round,
and the holes are not opposite, of course there will
be no opening, as in fig. 76 (1), and the contents
are secured from escape.

1 ■ • -2

Fig. 76- Box for Larvsc.

Larva-preserving is carried out by first killing,
and then squeezing and extracting the contents
through the anal orifice by means of a crochet hook.

AVhcn this has been done, the skin is inflated, but
not to such an extent as to distend the segments,

and is kept thus inflated while it is being dried
in a heated metal chamber. Afterwards, if the
colours are observed to have faded, they may be
cautiously restored by the application of paint.
These objects, mounted on suitable artificial leaves,
are then ready for the cabinet.

Chrysalis-collecting is conducted according to
the situation of the object sought. Some are to be
found in the chinks of bark or under loose bark,
which may be detached by means of a powerful
lever. Some are "suspended from trees, bushes,
copings, hanging bead downwards, or girded by
silken threads to low plants or walls ; others are to
be found in the stems or trunks of their food-
plants ; many are concealed in cocoons of more or
less perfect construction, others again amongst
fallen leaves, but the majority are to be met with
under the surface' of the ground ; in which case we
shall have to dig for them by the aid of a trowel or
broad chisel. The best situations for subtei'ranean
pupoe are open park-like fields, borders of streams,
open spaces in fir woods, and they are usually situ-
ated within a foot or so of the tree trunks, at the
depth of two or three inches, though sometimes
considerably deeper. Of course both larvae and
pupae of aquatic species will have to be sought for
in their element, among the plants they frequent.

Chrysalis-preserving is a simple matter: the
pupae may be killed by plunging them into hot
water or by baking ; frequently, however, we find
that the natural polish disappears with death, and
this may be restored by varnishing. It is advisable
that the cocoons also, where practicable, should
be preserved, to give a notion of their appearance
in nature.

Moths and butterflies may be sought for at rest
or on the wing. They may be disturbed from their
hiding-places or they niny be attracted by various
alluring baits.

At rest on stems of grasses and other plants,
butterflies may be taken on dull, sunless days ; but it
requires some experience to detect a butterfly with
its wings raised up over its back : the little " Blues "
may thus be freely l)oxed in their localities. Again,
such butterflies as hjbernate may be found in old
sheds and outhouses, or under stacks.

Moths may be taken at rest on tree trunks,
palings, and walls, or amongst foliage and ground
herbage. Some species are to be freely captured
in this way after their evening flight is over. Of
course, for evening work, a lantern to assist our
vision will be indispensable.

On the wing, some butterflies arc exceedingly
active, others comparatively sluggish; some fly
high, others low. In hunting them, the chief points
to be remembered are not to alarm, but rather
cautiously to stalk our game, and strike, when we
have an opportunity, with precision. It is import-
ant also to avoid throwing a shadow over them,

liAKDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

123

and it is a good plan to get to wiudward of them —
anything like flurry will be fatal to success.

Moths which fly by day may be chased in the
same manner, but some may be observed disporting
tliemselves round trees ; these must be watched,
and netted as they now and 'then descend. Others
fly at a very low altitude, and are only brought
into the field of vision by our assumption of the
recumbent position. At night again, though we
watch for anything stirring in the air, among the
trees or the herbage, our tactics are somewhat
modified ; for if the insect be of whitish colour, we
should so place ourselves that its form will stand
boldly out against a mass of dark foliage, whereas,
if it be dingy in hue, we must take the sky for our
background.

Disturbing insects, and thus causing them to
start forth, and so render themselves visible, is
another metliod of collecting. This is carried out
in various ways.

First, the occupants of high trees may be ex-
pelled by jarring the trunk with a heavily-loaded
mallet, or by tliwacking the trunk with a long
hazel stick; but a sharp look-out must be kept,
for some sham death, and fall plump down, while
others make off as fast as they can. Other plans
are to pelt the trees with stones, or pump on them
with a powerful garden-engine, or beat them with
a long pole ; and of all trees the most profitable for
this purpose is the yew ; though firs, oaks, beeches,
and other trees are not to be despised.

Tor beating bushes there is nothing better than
a walking-stick, and for low herbage a long switch
passed quickly from side to side with a tapping
movement is best adapted. The tenants of tree
trunks may be disturbed by brushing the surface
•with a leafy little bough, or, better still, by the
use of a strong fan, with which a powerful blast
may be driven, the net being held in such a posi-
tion as to intercept such insects as are blown off.

Thatch-beating in the autumn is a very profitable
employment, particularly in the matter of Depres-
sarue. Sweeping need only be mentioned here, for
motlis collected by the process are anything but
perfect insects.

There are various methods of attracting moths
and butterflies. The first is effected by confining a
virgin female in a muslin cage,
the frame of which may be very
eadily formed by bending three
V^^^-s — -{/ pieces of cane into circles, and

\,\. J y fixing these together at right
. \, angles, as shown in fig. 77.

Frame of Cage for When this baited cage is placed
Virgin Lepidoptera. -^ ^ favourable position, and the
weather is propitious for the flight of the males,
the latter will, in some cases, congregate, and may
be freely captured.

Then, the food-plant of the species is an attraction

UA—T~A «

at whicli we stand the best chance of procuring
impregnated females.

Various kinds of blooms possess alluring quali-
ties for insects : of these, sallow and ivy are the
greatest favourites with collectors. They should
be worked after dusk by means of a lantern and
net ; but the combination of a lantern fixed to a

Fig. 78. Lautern and Net.

long stick, with a shallow net beneath and a little in
advance of it, as sliowu in the cut, is the apparatus
best adapted for the purpose ; the object of the
net being to intercept any insects which may hap-
pen to fall under the stimulus of light. These
attractions should be first well searched over and
afterwards, a sheet (split if necessary) having been
carefully s])read bslow the bushes, a gentle shaking
should be administered. Besides these blossoms,
heather, ragwort, bugloss, catchfl}', bramble, various
grasses, and a vast number of ctlier flowers, are
wonderfully attractive. In working patches of
bloom we should remain stationary and strike as
the visitors arrive. Again, over-ripe fruit, the
juicy buds of-certain trees, sap exuding from wounds
in trees, are aU more or less attractive. The secre-
tion of aphides, commonly called honey-dew, ob-
servable in hot seasons on the leaves of nettles and
various other plants and trees, is also well worth
attention, and is at times very productive of insects.
Sugaring is the next attraction, and a very im-
portant one it is. "Sugar" may be prepared by
boiling up equal quantities of coarse " foots "
sugar and , treacle in a sufiieieut quantity of stale
beer, a small quantity of rum being added previous
to use, and also, if considered advisable, a flavouring
of jargonelle pears, anise-seed, or ginger-grass. This
mixture should be applied by means of a small
paint-brush to the trunks of trees, to foliage, flowers,
tufts of grass, or indeed to any object which may
present a suitable surface ; for in some localities we
are put to shift to kuow whereto spread our sweets.
This operation should be performed just before
dusk, and soon afterwards the baited spots should
be visited and, by the aid of a lantern gently turned
on them, examined, a net being held beneath the
while. The best form of net for the purpose is
formed by socketing two paragon wires into a Y-
piece and connecting their diverging extremities

G 2

124.

HA RDW ICKE'S SC I EN CE-GO S S I P.

by a piece of catgut", as shown in fig. 79. The
catgut, being flexible, will adapt itself (see the
dotted line) to the surface of a tree trunk when
pressed against it. With regard to insects cap-
tured at sugar, they arc usually remarkably quiet,

Fig. 79. Net for Sugaring. Fig. 80. Box with linen joints.

and may be boxed without dilEculty, and, with a few
exceptions, may be conveyed home in the boxes, care
being taken to let each have a separate apartment.
The boxes should be strengthened Avith strips of
linen pasted round the joints, as shown in fig. SO,
otherwise accidents may occur, particularly on M'et
evenings or on rough ground. The skittish indi-
viduals may be best captured by means of the
sugaring-drum, of which a cut is given in fig. 81.
This apparatus consists of a cylinder, one end of
which is covered with gauze, the other provided
with a circular valve, which works in a slit. For

Fig. 81. Sugaring-drum.

use, the valve is opened and the cylinder placed
over the insect, which naturally flies towards the
gauze ; then the valve is closed, the corked piston,
shown at the lower part of the cut, placed against
it, the valve re-opcncd, the piston pushed up to the
gauze, the insect pinned through the gauze, and
the piston withdrawn with the insect transfixed
it to.

Light is another most profitable means of at
tracting. The simplest way is to place a powerful
moderator lamp upon a table in front of an open
window which faces a good locality, and then wait
net in hand for our visitors, which usually make
their appearance late in the evening, and continue
to arrive until the small hours. Those ^^ho prefer

J3|^.:i!:i''^''^'f'if"''"jf[iiiJ!|

Fig. 82. Cyanide-bottle and Ferrule.

it can use the Americau moth-trap, which is self-
acting, detaining such insects as may enter itspcr
tals, or those who can afford the space may fit up a
room on the same principle. Street lamps are very
profitable in certain localities, and amply reward the
collector who perseveriugly and minutely examines
them. The apparatus depicted in fig. 82 is very
useful for taking off sueli insects as may be on the
glass of the lamp : it consists of a cyanide-bottle
attached by a ferrule to the end of a sufficiently
long stick. "When placed over an insect, stupefac-
tion is quickly produced. A net of the sliape re-
presented in fig. 83 is also very useful for getting
at the various parts of the lamp.

>'

The best methods of stupefying and killing insects
on the field is the cyanide-bottle, prepared by placing
alternate layers of cyanide of potassium and blotting-
paper in the bottom of a wide-mouihcd
bottle, the mouth of which is accuiately
stopped with a cover, which is better for
the purpose than a bung. The cldoro-
form-bottle, which is generally made with
a litlle nipple, through which the fluid
flows slowly out, and covered with a
screw-top, as in the cut, is also handy.
Tlic chloroform should be dropped over
perforations in the box containing our
patient, these perforations having been
previously made by a few stubs of a pen-
knife. After the fluid is dropped, our thumb should
cover it, when the vapour will quickly eater, and

rig. 81

Cliloro-

form-

bottle.

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

125

the inmate speedily become insensible. Afterwards
the coup de grace may be given to the insect by
pricking it under the thorax with the nib of a
steel pen dipped in a saturated solution of oxalic
acid. If we are smokers, a puff of tobacco may
be blown into the box with like result. If we
are destitute of any apparatus, and brimstone
lucifers for the purpose of suffocating our captures
under an inverted tumbler cannot be obtained
at some roadside inn, we must fall back ou
the barbarous practice of pinching the thoraces
of such as cannot be carried home in boxes. At
home we shall find the laurel-jar and ammonia-
bottle the most useful. The former is made by
partially filling a large wide-mouthed bottle or jar
with cut and bruised dry leaves of young laurel : if
any dampness hang about them, we shall have the
mortification of seeing our specimens become mil-
dewed. The latter consists in adding a few lumps
of carbonate of ammonia, or some drops of strong
liquid ammonia, on a sponge, to the bottle in which
our captures, with each box lid slightly opened, have
been placed. But it must be borne well in mind,
firstl}', that ammonia is injurious to colours of most
greeu insects ; and secondly, that if the specimens
be not well aired after having been thus killed, the
pins with which they are transfixed will become
brittle and break. Insects should be left in the
ammonia for several hours, and are then in the
most delightful condition for setting out.

To pin an insect properly is a most important
procedure. The moth, if of moderate dimensions,
may be rested or held between the thumb and fore-
finger of the left hand, while the corresponding

\

f

y

a

\ ! /

^^

-=

11^

---

^-^

Fig. 85. Front View of properly pinned insect.

digits of the right hand operate by steadily pushing
a pin through the thorax, bringing it out between
the hind pair of coxa; until sufBcient of the pin is
exposed beneath to steady the insect in the cabinet.

Fig. 86. Side View of ditto.

The direction of the pin should be. perpendicular
when the insect is viewed from the fron^, as in

fig. 85, a ; but a lateral view should show the pin
slightly slanting forwards, as in fig. 86, b. Pins
made for the purpose in numerous sizes are sold l)y
Mr. Cooke, of New Oxford Street.

Setting out moths and butterflies is an operation
which, if skilfully performed, adds much to the
bejiuty of the future specimens. The method of
setting most popular is carried out by means of
saddles and braces. These so-called saddles arc
pieces of cork rounded as in the sectional figure, a

^0msg,,^^^^

Fig. 87. Cork Saddle for setting out insects.

groove being cut out for the reception of the bodies
of the insects : they are generally strengthened by
a strip of wood, upon which they are glued. Braces
are wedge-shaped pieces of card or thick note-
paper, the thick end strengthened, if necessary, with
a disk of card fixed by shoemaker's paste, and
pierced with a pin through it, as shown in fig. 88-

I

Fig. 88. Braces for setting out.

The mode of application of these appliances is
beautifully shown in fig. OO.® But before these
straps can be applied, the wings must first be got
into position by means of the setting-needle and
setting-bristle, which are thus manipulated; the
setting -bristle, by the way, being formed by
fixing a cat's whisker and a pin into a piece of
cork, at the angle shown in fig. 89 : — After the

Fig. so. Pin, Biistle, &c., for setting out.

insect is straightly pinned upon the saddle, and the
legs, antennae, and, if necessary, the tongue, got
into position, the left fore-wing is to be pushed or

* This figure and the following have been kindly lent by
Messrs. Reeve &, Co.

12G

HARDWICKE'S S CIEN G E-GO SSIP.

tilted into its place by iiieans of the settiug-neeclle,
whicli is merely a darning-needle witli a handle ;
and simultaneously it is to be held down by the
bristle ; then a small brace should be applied to the
costa of the fore-win^. Next the hind- wing should
in like manner be adjusted, and as many braces as
arc coujidered necessary to keep the wings in this
place should be added. Lastl.r, the right side of
the insect should be treated in a similar way.

Vig. go. Moth set out on cork saddle.

A very useful mode of setting, invaluable when
we are destituie of saddles, is known as "four-
strap" setting, and is -well explained in fig. 91.

Fi^. 91. Four- Strap setting.

In this case the lower straps are first put into
such a position, that when the insect is placed
over them, the middle of each of the cosltc will
rest upon them ; then the wings are got into posi-
tion, and the second pair of straps are applied
over the wings, the latter retaining their position
through the elasticity of their costfc: two more
straps are generally added to secure the outer
borders of the wings, as shown in the drawing; but
these, though advantugcoiis, are not absolutely
necessary. The saddles, with their contents, should
be kept in a drying-house, which is a box adapted
for their reception, and freely ventilated, until the
specimens are thoroughly dry, when the latter may
be cautiously removed, aud transferred to the
collection.

To preserve our collection from decay, consider-
able care and attention is necessary. In the first
place no insect which is in the least degree sus-
pected of being alfccted by niitcs, or mould, or
grease, should upon any account be admitted to our
collections. It is best to be on the safe side and
submit every insect received from correspondents.

whether mity or not, to quarantine, by which is
meant their detention for a few v.-eeks in a box
the atmosphere of which is impregnated .with some
vapour destructive to insect life ; such as that of
benzole. Oar own spccinjiens v.'c should kyauizc
by touching the bodies of each with a camel's-hair
brush dipped in a solution of bichloride of mercury
of the strength sis grains to the ounce of spirits of
wine,— uo stronger.

As for mould, it is best destroyed by the appli-
cation of phaenic or carbolic acid, mixed with three
parts of ether or spirit. As preventives, the
specimens should be kyanized as above. Caution in
the use of laurel as a killing agent must be exer-
cised, and the collection must be kept in a dry
room.

Grease may be removed by soaking the insects
iu pure rectified naphtha or benzole, even by boil-
ing them iu it if necessary. When the bodies only
are greasy, they may be broken off, numbered, and.
treated as above. After the grease is thoroughly
softened, the insects should be covered up in pow-
dered pipeclay or French chalk, which may be sub-
sequently removed by means of a small sable brush.
As a precaution against grease, it is advisable to
remove the contents of the abdomina by slitting up
the latter beneath with a finely-pointed pair of
scissors before they are thorough-dry, and packing
the cavities with cotton-wool. The males.espccially
of such species as have internal feeding larvee,
should be thus treated.

Some prefer to keep their collections in well-
made store-boxe?, which possess many advantages
over the cabinet ; for example, they may be kept
like books in a bookcase, the upright position ren-
dering the contents less liable to the attacks of
mites ; they are more readily referred to, aud are
more portable, and they admit of our gradually ex-
panding our collections to any extent. Cabinets, on
the other hand,'are preferred by many, for the reasons
that they are compact and generally form a hand-
some article of furniture ; moreover, good cabinets
are madc_cntirely of mahogany, which is the best
wood for the purpose ; deal, and other woods con-
taining resinous matter, having a decidedly in-
jurious effect cu the specimens. As a preservative,
there is, after all, perhaps nothing better than cam-
phor ; but it should be used sparingly, or its tendency
will be to cause greasiness of the specimens.

ART IN ITS RELATION TO NATURAL
SCIENCE.

PAINTINGS, and works of art generally, have
not hitherto been introduced into Scienck-
Gossip, but, on reflection, it appears that the
fine arts would be advanced by the appHcation
of science to them. Anatomy, perspective, the

HARDWICKE'S SCIEK CE-GO S SIP.

127

geological striictare of rocks, the principles oa
which water finds its level and also is conformable
to the rotundity of the earth, natural history, and
especially botany, are needful for the accomplish-
nieut of artists in their several departments. In
fact, truth, which science asserts, is the soul of
painting and poetry alike ; and no real and sub-
stantial feeling of grace or beauty, in any of her
forms, can be divorced from it.

We shall, therefore, consider it to be strictly
within the province of Science-Gossip to endea-
vour to eliminate from every branch of art the enor-
mities which have been perpetrated under her
guise, such as horses galloping with their four legs
distended like rocking-horses, flon'-ers and plants
mere apologies for their originals, &c.

In commencing the npplication of science to
works of art, we propose to deal very gently with
those exhibited this year at the Royal Academy,
and to do little m.ore than indicate some marked
errors. No. 25, by Sir E. Landscer, R.A., is a
charming but rather sketchy portrait of Lady
Emily Peel, seated, with her dogs, deservedly
favourites, courting her notice on either side. The
artist has paid little attention to the flowers at her
feet, as little apparently as the dog which in its haste
to reach its mistress has upset the vase whicli
contained them. This is a pretty episode ; but it
is vain for Sir Edwin to divert our attention from
the flowers by the charming portraiture of the lady.
Nature seems to assert her rights and to claim for
her flowers a fair delineation, not as photographs,
nor as principals in the picture, but such as is
truthful and pleasing, and not to leave it necessary
to ask what they are intended for. No. 223,
" Hearts are Trumps : Portraits of Elizabeth, Diaua^
and Mary, Daughters of Walter Armstrong, Esq.,"
J. E. Millais, R.A. This gorgeous painting, per-
haps the best that the artist has ever produced,
is entirely free from the defects of No. 25. The
exquisite flowers on the one side are most artisti-
cally set off by the screen on the other, under
which the ladies are seated at their game of cards.
As they are portraits, they do not admit of the
criticism which would attach to one of them at least,
who holds the king of hearts, but does not seem
to be delighted, scarcely contented, with her good
luck. The sister, who holds the fewest hearts,
appears the most contented. Had the subject been
ideal, it would have been open to criticism on this
score ; but, as it is, it is difficult to find fault with
it, and we anticipate that it will be one of the
chief attractions in the exhibition. No. G, "In the
Valley of Rocks, North Devon," T. G. Cooper. We
have much pleaure in singling this out among many
as a faithful representation of the geological struc-
ture of the rocks, at the same time that the artist
proves that he is alive to the sentimental by his
placing the right hand of the shepherdess upon the 1

neck of a lamb, and a nosegay of wild flowers in
her left. No. 130, "Passing Clouds, near Capel
Carig, North Wales," B. W. Leader. Por the
same reason we call attention to this picture as very
beautiful, and geologically correct, and werepeat our
conviction, that the more closely and scientifically
the geological features are represented, the greater
will be the pictorial charm. Time will not allow
me to specify the many excellent pictures in which
the rules of science may be said to be faithfully
carried out. I will only mention the " Yew-trees of
Borrowdale," by E. A. Pettitt, a most effective
painting, but in which the natural colours are
slightly departed from. No. 658, " My Punishment
is greater than I can bear," G. E. Watts, R.A.
The anatomical correctness of this gigantic work
is, perhaps, open to censure, and we do not regret
that it is deposited in the Academy, where it will
be out of sight

A EEW OBSERVATIONS ON THE SMOOTH
NEWT.

{Lissotrito.i punctatus.')

r\N the 29th of May last (1871) I obtained a
^^ female Smooth Newt (Lissotriton pimctatus) ,
and observing it to be big-bellied, conjectured that
it had not yet laid its eggs. In this I was not mis
taken, but, notwithstanding my close attention,
was unable to discover it in the act of depositing
them. This, probably, was owing to my ignorance
of the manner in which they were deposited, my
idea being that they were laid in some such manner
as those of the frog or toad — viz., in spawn. The
way in which they are deposited, and their further
development into the tadpole phase of their exist-
ence, form the subject of this short paper.

On receiving the Newt it was put into a large
rectangular aquarium, containing about three gal-
lons of water, and having in its centre a piece of
artificial rockwork in the form of an arch. Disposed
throughout were a number of plants of Vallisneria
spiralis, Callitriche venia, and G. autumnalis ; also
some water-moss upon the rockwork and at its
base. I frequently observed the Newt among the
plants, but nothing else being noticed, I began to
think I had been mistaken in my supposition of its
being an impregnated female ; and it was not until
the 17th''of June that anytliing transpired to con-
firm my first impression. On the afternoon of that
day, however, while watching the aquarium, which,
besides the Newt, contained a few minnows, loaches,
and a large number of frog-tadpoles, my eye caught
something darting about, scarcely visible but for
the bright golden'eyes which ever and anon glanced
like gems, as the colourless sprite darted hither and
thither. It must ultimately have fallen a victim to
some of the fisli, as I shortly after lost sight of it.

128

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

never again to see it ; or, indeed, any other iu this
aquarium. Subsequent experience proved that the
minute newt-tadpole was included in the frog-
tadpole's bill of fare, which, by the way, is very
comprehensive, a disabled member of its own
community not being objected to. The aquarium
liad a few days pi'eviously been cleaned out, the
plants thinned, and a few sprigs of CallitricJie venia,
which had some of their leaves folded down, and
kept iu that position, I had placed iu a sniall bottle
with water. On looking at them I found the
Jeaves a little separated, and within the cnfoldure

Fig:. 92. C«W(')-fc7ie werno, with leaves containing ova of Newt.

something resembling a small caterpillar snugly
coiled up in its cocoon. Suspecting what they
really were, I kept a close watch on their develop-
ment, and was not disappointed, as they proved to
be the young of the Newt, and were curious and
interesting objects for study. The following is my
diary of observation : —

June 12 (11 a.m.).— One of the germs, which I
suppose to be those of the Smooth Newt, was
hatched. It was about three-eighths of an inch long ;
head obtuse, rounded; eyes large and brilliant,
black, with bright golden iridcs : colour of body,
pale yellow or amber ; two dark-coloured streaks,
commencing on head, and combining at tlie point
where the tail commences, were continued to its
end, which was as fine as a needle's point. Under-
neath was a dark streak, formed, I think, by the
intestines ; behind the head, on either side, was a
delicate fringe — the hranclna (breathing organs).

consisting of several points directed outward and
backward, and so transparent as barely to be
visible. Erom the same point, along the centre of
the back, ran a fin, more transparent still — so
transparent as to be invisible, except in certain
lights, and with the aid of a magnifying-glass.

Development of Germ. — It was inclosed in a globular
jelly-like substance, which expanded at its growth ;

Fi?. 93. Sliowing; different stages in development of ova, k
from 1 to 4, &-C. •

the two halves of the leaf separating at the same
time, and showing the tadpole neatly coiled up, with
Its head and tail in close proximity. Erom the posi-
tion and appearance of the eggs, [ should suppose
them to be covered outwardly with a glutinous sub-
stance, which, when the egg was laid in the fold of
the leaf, and the halves compressed, adhered to
them, thus keeping the leaf in that position. As
the tadpole increased in size, however, it required
more space, and with its growth the two portions
of the leaf separated, thus allowing the water a
freer access to the t^g, and determining its shape,
which appeared to be that of a perfect sphere.
The furthest developed one was, in its outer part,
the half of a perfect sphere ; while the inner half,
still in the double of the leaf, was compressed and
elongated, giving to the whole egg a pear-shape.
See fig. 93, a, &c.

June 23. — The tadpole occasionally changed its
position in the tgg; the head and tail, liowever,
always keeping in same position, near together.
After twice rapidly changing its position in the
egg, the head of the tadpole burst the envelope,
and, after a few moments' rest, it dropped slowly
out, and resting with its head between a leaf and
the side of the bottle, was in a most favourable
posture for observation. I could now see the
brancliia: and fin with the unassisted eye, and found
that, in addilion to the back-fin, another ran along
the under-side of the tail^from the vent. After
remaining in this position for a few minutes, it
darted away stickleback-like. Immediately after
its coming out, the ^s^ collapsed, and on cxamina-

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

129

tion I loiind it to consist of a transparent substance,
much resembling gelatine, and no larger (when out
of the water) than an ordinary-sized piu's-head ;
thus favouring the opinion of its expansion by the
absorbing of water during the development of the
germ.

June 24. — Those hatched lay quietly at the bot-
tom of the water, rarely moving unless disturbed.
Two more developed, both occasionally moved, the
movement being a turning of the body half, or more
than half, round in the egg; it, however, was so
quick as to elude deflning. June 28.— All the eggs
now hatched. July 2. — All the young got fore-feet,
which were very pale and transparent, so much so,
indeed, as barely to be visible. The largest was
nearly half an inch long, the shortest three-eighths
ditto. July 5. — All the young nearly of the same
size. The head, legs, feet, and branchiie were all
covered with minute dark-coloured dots ; those on
the head brown, as were also the two streaks,
which, running, the whole length of the body, then
combined and continued in one to the end of the
tail. These were, as I afterwards found, composed
of a multitude of these minute dots. The head was
large, and branchiae more developed ; the legs
longer, and toes long in proportion, the middle
one (only three visible) being much the longest,
and almost equal in length to the rest of the leg ;
- the whole not exceeding 2-12ths of an inch. The
germs had the power of bending the body to either
side, and also of elevating the posterior part. When
they moved, they did so by quick, short starts for-
ward. July 11. — No observable change. July 18,
— A little larger, and tail-fin spotted, or rather
dotted. July 21. — The young were kept in a vessel
amongst decaying vegetable matter, which fostered
a growth of Conferva;, amongst which the tad-
poles became entangled. On disengaging them
they were still living, but died shortly after ; thus
bringing my interesting observations to a close. In
closing I may add, that during the whole period
from their discovery both eggs and tadpoles were
kept out of doors in the open air,
Newcastle-tipon-Tyiie. C. R. E.

' NEW BOOKS.--

rpiiERE are few greater luxuries to a literary
-*- naturalist than that of cutting the leaves of
such a splendid volume as that which heads our list.
The paper-knife would fain linger long over its work,
and drops listlessly out of the hand when the last
page has been severed ! To a student this work is

* " Corals and Coral Islands." By James D. Dana, LL.D.
London: Sampson I,ow & Co. 1872.

" Botany for Beginners." By Maxwell T. Masters, M.D.,
F.R.S. London : Bradbury, Evans, & Co. 1872. I

"May Flowers." By the Rev. James Harris, M.A. ■
London: Griffith & Farran. 1872. I

indeed a treasure. On no subject in marine zoology
have more mistakes been made than in the natural
history of Corals, Eor years past some of the best
naturalists in all countries have been working on
them. Milne-Edwards, Haines, Darwin, Duncan
Dana, Agassiz, Pourtales, and others have contri-
buted memoirs. Our fossil corals have been better
illustrated than our recent, as witness the magnifi-
cent volumes of the Pakcontographical Society.
No other class of marine objects throws such light
over past history, over the temperature and olher
physical conditions of primeval seas, as corals. With
Darwin's wonderful generalizations before us, out
of the fossil corals of our Silurian and carboni-
ferous limestone hills it becomes tolerably easy to-
describe the physical geography of the seas m-.
which those limestones were deposited. And yet,
with all the importance attached to corals, and in-
spite of all that has been written about them, as
well as the erroneous notion abroad concern-
ing these interesting organisms, we have hac^
hitherto no manual specially devoted to their con-
sideration. The student has been forced to wade
toilsomely through the scientific memoirs of his
own and other tongues, if haply he might find what
he sought after. Hence it is that we hail this
volume as a boon to the student ; as a splendid
manual on coral -zoology, finely illustrated, and
written by a man who perhaps knows more about
the practical natural history and literature of the
subject than any other philosopher.

Professor Dana's work enters minutely into the
relations between the Hydroids, Bryozoans, &c., and
Corals — the uon-coral-making actinoid Polyps, as
well as the coral-making— that is, between the sea-
anemones which deposit no lime, and the coral
animals which do. The chapter on " Life and Death
in concurrent Progress in Coral Zoophytes " is
deeply interesting, and we should gladly transcribe
it for our readers, did space permit. Perhaps the
most interesting part of the work, however, is that
which treats on Reef-forming Corals, and the causes
which influence their growth and distribution in
latitude, depth, &c. The principal coral reefs and
islands throughout the globe are particularized,
the author having personally visited the most
important. The formation, rate of growth, and
origin of coral reefs, are elaborately treated on at con-
siderable length. We have said enough, however,
to indicate to the student a valuable work, one that
will help the zoologist nearly as much as the geolo-
gist. We proceed to quote a few paragraphs rela-
tive to the mode in which the genera of some of
the commonest compound corals grow to their
mature sizes. Speaking on this important subject.
Prof. Dana says :— " When the budding is not con-
fined to any particular polyp or cluster of polyps,
but takes place universally through the growing
mass, the coral formed is more or less nearly hemi-

130

1 1 A R D W I C K £ ' S S C I E N C E - G O S S 1 P.

spherical ; and often the process goes ou with such
extreme regularity that these hemispheres are per-
fectly symmetrica], even wlieu enlarged to a dia-
meter of ten or fifteen feet. In the growth of these
liemispheres, the enlargement takes place in the
spaces between the polyps ; and whenever these
spaces begin to exceed the width usual to the
species, a new mouth opens, commencing a new
polyp ; and thus the growth of the mass involves
multiplication of buds. Species of Pontes also
grow into hemispheres and rude hillock-like forms
througli the same method of budding, and some of
the masses in the tropical Pacific have a diameter
of even twenty feet. Myriads of living polyps are
combined iu a single such mass, for each is but the
fifteenth or a twentieth of an inch in diameter.
Besides this metliod of budding, there is also a
kind of superior budding called spo7itaneous fission,
which consists in a spontaneous subdivision of a
polyp, by which two are made out of one. This
spontaneous fission is the common kind of hudding
in the large Astrea tribe. Many of the astrea
hemispheres of the Pacific, grown by this method,
have a diameter of ten or fifteen feet. . . Some-
times, when a new mouth forms iu an enlarging
disk, there is not at once a separation of the two,
but the disk continues to enlarge iu one direction
and another, and then another mouth opens, and
so on until a string of mouths exists in one elon-
gated disk ; and, finall}', a separation occurs, but
only to commence or carry forward another long
series. In this way the corals with mcandrinc
furrows are made, some kinds of which are popu-
larly called Brain-corals, and pertain to the Mean-
drina family. In all such species the tentacles
stand in a line on either side of the line of mouths."

Dr. Masters's little book appears to us to come
up to what it professes to be — a "Botany for Be-
ginners,"— better than any we have yet seen. It
is written in simple, yet attractive English. Tiie
illustrations are numerous and good, and every one
serves as a useful text for further enlargement.
Tiie author is a botanist of high standing, and his
experience as a lecturer enables him to introduce
his remarks to the student iu an untechnical, and
yet scientific manner. The most remarkable feature
in this'book is the correlation of the various details,
all taken from simple and familiar flowers, and the
modifications which each part has undergone in
different plants. The fact that the woodcuts arc
by Mr. Worthington Smith will be a sufficient
voucher for their correctness and finish.

The llev. Mr. Harris's little hrochure—" May
Flowers," — is what it calls itself, — a popular and
scientific description of the wild flowers of the
month, with their habitats, properties, &c. It is
cheerfully and pleasantly writteu, varied by a good
deal of original folk-lore, and cannot fail to interest
young beginners in the charming science of Botany.

A GOSSIP ABOUT THE HAWFINCH.

AS several of the contributors of Science-
Gossip last year took some interest in the
Hawfinch, perhaps a few remarks concerning it
in au aviary may be acceptable. The Hawfinch,
although not plentifully found, is not considered a
rare bird : some few are sometimes seen in Eppiug
Forest, where its nest is annually taken.

It is generally believed that it destroys small
birds, and so cannot be trusted in au aviary. Such
is not the case. I have kept it for months with
canaries, finches, tits, and warblers, without the
least injury to any.

When first taken it is rather shy, but does not
dash about as most small birds do ; if kept in a
small cage, it sits with a somewhat timid, pensive
look, and if approached, will tighten its feathers,
open its large mouth, and stand quite defiant ; of
course, in an aviary it makes off at once, but iu a
short time it becomes tame aud sings a few coarse
notes, but not louder than those of the Bullfinch.
When thoroughly established, it will allow you to
approach very near it, and even to pass under the
branch it may be standing upon; at nigbt, similar
to the Bullfinch, you may do almost what you like
(short of touching him), as the Hawfinch rarely
moves. On going from place to place, the rest of
the birds seem to keep clear of the Hawfinch ; when
at the feeding-pan, other birds do not approach ; for
although it is so inoffensive, most of the birds fear
it, with this exception, sometimes the Blue Tit will
dine at the same time, and at the same dish ;
Farus carideus will cling to the edge of the feeding,
pan supported by his tail, until fairly driven away
by the Hawfinch with open mouth.

The food of the Hawfluch is hemp and cauary-
seed, with sop-bread and milk ; kernels of the plum
are greedily devoured: a plentiful supply of water
is necessary, as he is fond of bathing.

Being above the ordinary size of finches, he is
somewhat ornamental and always to be seen; and
though his colours arc not the brightest of his
species, he is not a little attractive. The Hawfinch
is rather a clumsy-looking bird, with a large head,
and bill of extraordinary thickness and of great
strength, of a flesh-colour in winter, and becoaiing a
deep blue in spring. The head is a light brown ;
the throat and feathers round the base of biii
black; the back a dark brown; the wings
marked with white, something like the Chafliuch ;
the tail short, uuder-part pale brown; plumage
soft and blended; its fliglit is swift, and it
alights peculiarly heavy for a bird of its size. The
nest of the Hawfincli is rather loosely built; the
young have a spotted breast, something like a young
thrush, but the white and glossy feathers of the
wings are almost as bright as in tbe old ones.
The nestlings should be put iu a dark cage, with

HAIIDWICKE'S SCIENCE. GOSSIP.

131

some hay to keep them clean and warm. Eeed them
upon scalded bread and rape-seed, mixed with the
yolk of hard-boiled egg;. The rape-seed should be
soaked for twelve hours, then simmered for a few
minutes, then strained and rolled with rolling-pin,
taking care to get as many of the husks away as
possible : it will then be ready for mixing. This pre-
paration will do for almost any kind of young birds :
they should be fed every two hours, from early mom
until sunset.

The Hawhuch so brought up will answer to a
name if frequently mentioned at feeding-time. I
have heard of them imitating a few words ; and
indeed the formation of the bill seems to favour
such a remark. Those I brought up from the [nest
made an attempl, but I am sorry to say I cannot
give any account of their ability, as they died in
moulting. My impression is that they could talk.

C. J. W. RUDD.

THE PRODUCTS OF WASTE.

rrMLE number of important commercial products
-*- now manufactured from m.aterials which were
formerly thrown away, being at first sight valueless
and repulsive, has within the last ten years been
marvellously increased.

Those gorgeous colours the aniline dyes, exhibit-
ing almost every shade of the solar spectrum ;
stupendous blocks of alum ; beautiful yellow and
red crystalline masses of ferro- and ferri-cyanide of
potassium ; enormous cakes of paraffin, a chemical
curiosity a few years ago, but now one of the
largest of our manufactures ; the variety of lucifer-
matches in connection with the development and
production of phosphorus ; the almost endless com-
binations for artificial manures ; the still greater
assortment of paper in its useful applications ; —
all these might have been seen together in the last
exhibition, though but few perhaps of the many
thousands who gazed with pleasure at that interest-
ing collection were aware that they were mere
chemical products of the dust-heap and sewer. Dirt
has been aptly defined as valuable matter in the
wrong place ; and that such is the truth is evident
from the fact that all the manufactures first al-
luded to, as well as those of Prussian blue, disin-
fectants, glue, &c., have sprung into existence by
the application of chemical principles to such waste
products as coal-tar, gas-vrater, rags, and bones. In
the destructive distillation of coal for the production
of ordinary gas, a quantity of offensively-smelling
water and a considerable bulk of tarry matter are
also produced. These were formerly thrown away
as useless and deleteriou?, but now they are utilized.

The noxious odour of the gas-water is due to
the presence of sulphur and ammonium compounds,
and by simply adding sufficient quicklime the alka-

line compounds are decomposed and ammonia gas
is liberated. This is conducted into chambers filled
with carbonic acid gas, and thus the common salt,
known as carbonate of ammonium, is produced. More
than 2,000 tons of this useful chemical arc annually
made from refuse gas-water. If instead of quick-
lime, hydrochloric acid be added, sal-ammoniac is
obtained, from which nearly all the medicinal pre-
parations of ammonia are produced. The quantity
of sal-ammoniac thus manufactured from year to
year exceeds 4,000 tons. If again sulphuric acid be
employed in the place of hydrochloric acid, sul-
phate of ammonium is the result, about 5,000 tons
of which are annually used for manures. When to
a solution of sulphate of ammonium, one of sulphate
of aluminium is added, the crystalline substance
called alum is obtained, so generally useful in the
arts. The sulphuric acid used in preparing alum
may also be eliminated from gas-water. The sul-
phur impurities referred to before are removed by
means of a mixture of sav/dust and iron, sulphide
of iron and water being produced ; air is then
passed through the mixture, the effect of which is
to convert the sulphide of iron back again into oxide,
the sulphur at the same time separating in the form
of powder. The sulphur is then burned in a pro-
perly constructed furnace, and by causing the fumes
to combine with nitrous and aqueous vapours in
leaden chambers, sulphuric acid is obtained.

Let us pass now to the tarry matter, the other
waste product of the distillation of coal. This is
a very complex body, containing a large number of
substances, most of which are volatile, some acid,
some alkaline, and some neutral. By appropriate
chemical means these components of crude coal-tar
are obtained in a state of purity. The lighter por-
tions, known as coal-naphtha, consist principally of
benzol, a liquid of great utility in the arts. By
treating benzol with nitric acid, nitro-benzol is pro-
duced, which is used, on account of its sweet taste
and almond-like odour, to perfume soaps and flavour
confectionery. Aniline, the base of all the dyes
bearing that name, is obtained from the action of
nascent hydrogen or nitro-benzol. Carbolic acid is
another product of the fractional distillation of coal-
tar. By the action of nitric acid, carbolic acid is
converted into carbazotic acid, which is now used as
a yellow dye. Perhaps the most interesting of all
the products of coal-tar is solid paiaffin, a colour-
less crystalline fatty substance, which may truly
be termed "condensed coal-gas." It is found na-
turally in the coal-measures and other bituminous
strata, constituting the minerals known as fossil
wax, ozokerit, &c. It exists also in solution in
many kinds of petroleum, and may be obtained by
distilling off the more volatile portions and expos-
ing the remainder to a low temperature. The greater
bulk of paraffin is, however, obtained from coal-tar.
The oil produced from paraffin will only burn in the

132

HAKDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

presence of a wick, and is tlierefore perfectly safe ;
when burning, it splits up into olefiaut gas, thus
producing a brilliant white light. To sum up : from
the two waste products of coal in the manufacture
of gas are obtained carbonate, chloride, and sul-
phate of ammonium, sulphur and sulphuric acid^
coal-naphtha, benzol, nitro-beuzol, aniline, carbolic
and carbazotic acids, and solid paraffin.

The next division of this interesting subject is
rags. First and foremost of the many applications
of this humble material is the manufacture of paper ;
for this purpose M'c buy from other nations no less
than 15,000 tons of rags annual!)', besides using
70,000 tons from the waste of our own population;
the whole representing a money value of £700,000.
The trausTormation effected by the action of certain
chemicals on paper is very striking. A sheet of
common white blotting-paper, which will scarcely
bear its own weight when wetted, is converted in
a few seconds by the action of sulphuric acid into
a substance 'possessing all the properties of ordi-
nary animal parchment, and so strong that it can be
only broken with difficulty. Great as this change
is, strange to say, no chemical alteration has really
taken place ; the acid merely produces a molecular
change, and is entirely washed away at tlie end of
the process. Hags from woollen materials undergo
many peculiar metamorphoses ; old clo' crier s first
collect them ; they are then successively converted
into mungo, shoddy, and devil's dust, and reap-
pear as ladies' superfine cloth ; they then degenerate
into druggets, and are finally used for the manufac-
ture of flock-paper. After undergoing all these trans-
formations they are used by the agriculturist as
manure, on account of the large amount of nitrogen
they contain. The presence of this element makes
them of great use also to the chemical manufacturer ;
he boils them down with pearUoli, horns and hoofs
of cattle, old iron hoops, blood, clippings of
leather, and broken horseshoes, and produces the
beautiful yellow and red salts known as the prus-
siatcs of potash. Prom these again the rich and
valuable pigment called Prussian blue is made ; and
thus do our old rags enter upon a fresh career of
beauty and usefulness, to form in their turn other
waste products, which may again be utilized through
the power of man's intelligence.

The vast and important subject of bones now
demands attention. Of these we import more than
£400,000 worth, and the uses to which they are
applied arc endless. Bones are composed of half
their weight of phosphate of lime, about a third of
their weight of cartilage or gelatine, and the re-
mainder of earthy matters. The gelatine is ex-
tracted by boiling water under pressure, and is
used to stiffen calico, &c. ; when purified, it con-
stitutes the nutritious aliment known as calf's-foot
jelly.

When bones are heated without access of air, the

organic matter of the cartilage is decomposed, oily
products passing over, and a black carbonaceous
residue being left : tbis is bone-black, or animal
charcoal, greatly used as a deodorizer and disin-
fectant. Bones, when calcined and heated witli
sulphuric acid, yield superphosphate of lime, so
highly esteemed as a manure. The last and cer-
tainly the most important application of bones is
the manufacture of phosphorus. The bones are
first burnt to remove all traces of animal matter ;
the resulting bone-earth, as it is called, is then
subjected to the action of sulphuric acid, by which
superphosphate of lime is produced. This acid
phosphate is then mixed with charcoal and strongly
heated in a retort, when it splits up into normal
phosphate and phosphoric acid, the latter being
finally reduced by the charcoal to phosphorus,
while hydrogen and carbonic oxide are liberated as
gases. The combustible and poisonous properties
of phosphorus make it very dangerous to employ
in the arts ; but Professor Schrotter discovered
that when ordinary phosphorus Mas heated for
some time in a closed vessel to a temperature of
470° it lost its power of igniting spontaneously
and became of a deep red colour. By making use
of this discovery, matches can now be made with-
out danger either to those who manufacture them
or to those who use them. The safety-match is
made by putting the oxidizing material alone on
the match, the red phosphorus being mixed with
emery and pasted on the side of the box.

We have thus mentioned a few of the valuable
applications of substances which some years ago
were looked upon as utterly worthless. Coal-tar,
rags, and bones rise from the sewer and dust-heap,
and are transformed by chemistry into gorgeous
luxuries and necessities of civilization, giving em-
ployment in their transformations to thousands of
our vroiking classes. C. Leicester.

ON THE ECONOMY OF THE ERESH-
WATER POLYP.

HAVING for more than two years past had a
number of Hydras in small glass aquaria
under my (I* might almost say daily) observation,
1 thought, simple and limited as those observations
may be, that they perhaps would prove interesting
to the readers of Science-Gossip. The Hydras are
most interesting animals, and have long attracted
the attention of naturalists generally, on account of
their extraordinary powers of reproduction. The
Hydra vulgaris, which is the same as I have in my
glasses, was discovered by Leeuwenhok, in 1703 ;
but its wonderful power of digestion, and of nndti-
plication after division, were first discovered by
Tiembley in 1740.

Having noticed, at the end of last December, that

HAKDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

m

a number of Hydras in my aquarium had become
b'.udded with white liemispherical-sbaped Jumps,
rather prominently raised in the centre (as sliown
in iig. O-l, a), I took some of them out of the water,
and examined them under the microscope in a shal-
low cell ; when I observed in the extreme tips of
those lumps a number of moving objects, having the
appearance of so many minute animalcules, which
kept up continual and rapid movements. After a

Fig. 9J. Hytlra, s-howing iirominences a, and b eruptions.

lime, I distinctly saw an eruption of some of those
protuberances, and springing out from them, with
considerable force, a number of those moving ob-
jects (fig. 9t, d), which appeared to disperse them-
selves in the water around the Hydra. At that
time the Hydra did not take food, and the tentacles
gradually contracted, and finally the whole body
dissolved into a confused mass of whitish granules.
Now the question arose in my mind as to what
these living moving things could be that occupied
Ihekrnpsand finally escaped into the water sur-
rounding the body of the Hydra, Were they the

spermatozoa escaping from the sperm-cells fertiliz-
ing the ova in the ovi-sacs ? Both the sperm-cells
and ovi-sacs are to be found on the same polyp, and
at its final dissolution the ovum sinks t,o the bottom
and lies hidden in the mud, from which ovum the
Hydra is reproduced in the following spring. This
appears to me to be the case, and though this
manner of the formation of the Hydras from ova
has never been traced or witnessed, yet I think we
have reason to conclude that this is tlic fact, as after
the disappearance of the Hydras in the autumn, 1
have during the winter closely examined the water
and plants growing in it, and have not been able to
find one single Hydra; and then again in the spring,
I have observed a very icw small ones indeed, and
after a time have found them increasing by gemma-
tion or budding, which is tlie usual manner of their

Fig-. 95. rirst stage in ilcvelopmcnt of Hydra.

propagation during the summer months. All this
can be witnessed by any one during the summer
by keeping them in a small aquarium under obser-
vation. The reason why I think the small Hydras
that make their appearance first in the spring are
produced from ova is the fact that, ^vhen produced
by budding, I have always observed that the young

m- 1

Fig. g6. Second stage in development of Hj dra.

on:s do not leave the parent stem until they are
fuUgrown, and as large as the parent itself; and
even sometimes a bud is seen on the young one be-
fore it leaves the parent stem. So I conclude that
those very small ones which fiist appear are pro-

LSI

IIARDWiCKE'S SCIENCE- GOSSIP,

duced from the ova. Some of them when first
observed are a mere rounded lump, showing the
tentacles like a star (as shown on fig. 95), others I
find as it were in a more advanced slate, as that
marked litr. 96, but without a footstalk or sucking
disk. And again others with a very short footstalk,
as in fig. 97; and so on until they commence budding

.^^^"^^

are produced from ova. There is another way of
multiplying the Hydra besides gemmation and ova-
tion, which is by mechanical subdivisions; that is,
by cutting them into slips as you would plants.
Ti'.is I have proved several times, and now have
some on which I have tried the experiment. In one

Fig. 97. Development of Foot-stalk,
in the usual way. So I think it very feasible that

Fig-. B8. Development of Foot-stalk,
the small Hydras that appear in tlic early spring

Fig. TQ. Hydra a'tacking Water-flea.

glass there arc eight Hj'dras whicli are the results
of my cutting four into parts. Cuttin'^- them does

Fig. 100. Hydra wiiliout tentacles.

not appear to aCTect them much, for the part con-
taining the tentacles, when severed, sinks gradually
to the bottom of the glass, with the tentacles still

il A 11 J ) \ V 1 C K E ' S S C I E K C £ - G O S S I P .

135

extended. And should a water-flea come within
the reach of the tentacles, they readily seize it and

Fig. 101. Hydra after cutting.

draw it to the mouth of the polyp. The flea will
struggle M'itli the polyp, and will drag it about at

Fig. 102. Hydra tiiree hours after cnttins

the bottom of the glass, as the Hydra has no foot -
stalk or sucker to hold on with, being cut asunder.
But, liowever, it holds fast on the flea, and finally
absorbs it. The foot-part of the severed Hydra
still continues to hold on to the plant or side of the
glass where it was fixed when it was cut in two ;
and, stretching out its full length, patiently waits
until a new head and tentacles are formed, before it
can catch its prey to satisfy its appetite. I have
figured the forms of some of the polyps three hours
after being cut in two. I have seen the tentacles
reproduced in a few hours after the operation, sufii-
cieut to enable the Hydra to catch and absorb the
water-flea. In one of my glasses are several Hydras
the results of my cutting two to pieces ; one I cut
in two, the other I cut into several pieces, and they
are all restored to perfect animals.

James Fullagak.

MICEOSCOPY.

List of rouMS ix Mollek's Diatomaceex
PnoBE Platte. — Triceratium Eavus, Pinnularia
nobilis, Navicula Lyra, Navicula Lyra, var., Pinnu-
laria interrupta, 1-inch objective ; Stauroneis Phce-
niceiiterou, Grammatophora marina, Pleurosig a
Balticam, f -inch ditto ; Pleurosigma acuminatum,
Pleurosigma angulatum, ^-inch ditto ; Pleurosigma
fasciola, Grammatophora subtilissima, Surirella
gemma, Nitzschia sigmoidea, -g-inch ditto ; Cyma-
topleura elliptica ; Navicula crassinervis, I'^-inch
ditto ; Nitzschia curvuhn, ^-inch ditto ; Amphipleura
pellucida, yViiich ditto. The above is a copy of
Mollcr's list, with the powers usually necessary to
resolve the forms'; but, being mounted in balsam,
the striae are much more difiicult to resolve than
when mounted dry. KUzschia curvula (Smith)
of lists is not that form, but N. sigma of Smith,
The former is not a Nitzschia, but a Surkella,— the
S. intermedia of Dr. Lewis. The illuminating ray
requires to be more or less oblique in all cases
where the ofcj;;ctive is less than ^.

Fui^GoiD GiiowTiis ON Leayes of Coleus. —
A paper was read before the Royal Microscopical
Society, by Mr. H. J. Slack, P.G.S., &c., on the
supposed fungus on Coleus leaves. A microscopic
examination of the leaves revealed certain peculiar
appearances on their under surfaces, which had
hitherto been attributed to fungoid growths. When
a leaf of a Coleus is examined by means of a lens, a
number of globular bodies of a beautiful yellow tint,
highly translucent and refractive, and the majority
of them marked with a cross like that impressed on
the well-known cross-bun, mny be detected. These
bodies are pretty uniformly distributed, without
any regard to the variegations of the leaf-colouring
matter. The colours of these bodies, when healthy

ISO

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

and well filled with their refractive matter, varied
from a rich topaz to a pale sherry tint, and they
glittered like jewels when well lit up. Empty
cells rudely resembled a mushroom in form, with a
stout stem and a round head marked with a cross,
but the texture did not look in the least fungoid,
nor could any mycelium he detected or the leaves.
The author details a series of observations on leaves
of many varieties of Coleus, and in all stages of
growth, and has come to the conclusion that these
supposed parasitic growths are in reality only glan-
dular hairs, similar to those on Mentha viridis (gar-
den mint), &c. Dr. Braithwaite suggested that they
might contain the matter producing the foetid odour
possessed by the Coleus plants. — Monthly Microsco-
pical Journal, Part XIII.

Our readers, particularly those interested in the
Diutomaccsc and Desmidecc, will learn with regret
the death of M. Louis Alphonse de Brebisson,
of Falaise, and formerly Councillor-General of
Calvados. He was author of various papers on the
Diatomacese, &c., and was member of many
scientific societies. Of late years he devoted him-
self almost entirely to the study of the Diatomacese^
and was one of the very few, perhaps the only
Frenchman, who made those organisms the subject of
really scientific investigation. He was always ready
to impart any information or gatherings to those in-
terested in the simpler forms of vegetable life, as the
acknowledgments of Kiitzing, ]labenhorst, llalfs.
Smith, and others testify. The writer of this notice
would also record his obligations to him for the
frequent supply cf specimens and material. He
departed this life at his residence, on the 25th day
of April, in the 74th year of his age.— i^. K.

Drum of the Ear of the Frog. — Mr. C.
Baker, of Holborn, has just published some trans,
parent injected preparations of this organ. These
slides, besides exhibiting the ramifications of the
capillaries, admirably display the pigment-cells ;
the cartilaginous structure is also well defined
when the object is examined by polarized light. A
paper on the organs of hearing in frogs, by Dr. C.
Hesse, of VViirzburg, wnll he found in Siebold and
KoUiker's "Zeitschrift fiir wissenschaftliche Zoo-
logie," Part III.

Dr. Beale's formula for the preparation of the
carmine solution is as follows -.—Ten grains of car-
mine in small fragments are to be placed in a test-
tube, and half a drachm of sti-ong liquor ammonite
added by agitation, and the heat of a spirit-lamp ,
the carmine is soon dissolved, and the liquid, after
boiling a few seconds, is to be allowed to cool.
After the lapse of an hour, much of the excess of
ammonia will have escaped. The solution is then to
be mixed with 2 oz. of distilled water, 2 oz. of gly-
cerine, J oz. of alcohol. The whole may be passed

through a^filter or allowed to stand for some time ;
the perfectly clear supernatant fluid may be poured
ofi^ and kept for use.

I do' not think it is generally known to micro-
scopists that the addition of a little gum camphor
to the parafine-oil in the microscope lamps burnin-'
that fluid is a very great improvement. About
fifteen grains of camphor, put into an ordiuary-
sized lamp, about one hour before using, will cause
the lamp to give a far more intense and brilliantly
white light than the parafine-oil alone would give.
— John A. Perry, Liverpool.

ZOOLOGY.

Blind Fishes.— Is the Typhlichthys viviparous ?
Such would appear to be the case from the " im-
portant fact" alluded to on page 88.— i^. /. //'.,
Winchester.

New Lopiioid Fish.— In the May number of
the "Annals and Magazine of Natural History,"
Dr. Liitken describes a new Lophoid fish, under
the name of Oneirodes Eschrichtii. It comes fronr
high northern latitudes, off the coasts of Greenland,
and from a great depth of water, probably abyssal.
It is distinct, however, from an allied deep-sea
Lophoid found near Madeira. The mouth is hori-
zontal, and the whole fish is remarkably smooth and
rounded. Its total length is only eight inches. It
is very rare, and from this circumstance and the
depth it comes from, very probably it has a long-
extended antiquity, and its allies may be looked for
among fossil forms.

Notes of a Cowcatcher Ride through
Nebraska.— It was our good fortune to have a
special train from the Platte river to Omaha, and
as the novelty of riding in the cabin of the loco -
motive had long since worn off, the cowcatcher"
was next resorted to, and with results that had not
been anticipated. Sitting carelessly on the beam
that supports the iron framework, " nursing one
leg," I was suddenly struck in the face by a small
object, that decidedly made an impression ; others
came in quick succession, and before I could solve
the problem, a large grasshopper {Edijmla IlaUh-
manni, Scudd.) struck my boot, glaaced and rolled
into my lap. Having no bottle at hand, I imme-
diately secured it in a leaf from a railroad land
document that had been handed to me, and placed
it in my pocket. By this time we were running
at forty miles an hour, and grasshoppers pelted us
like driving sleet. They seemed to fl[y or jump up

* A contrivance, as its name implies, for throwing off the
line any cattle or other animals which may have strayed upon
it; a very common case on those lines which are not fenced
in, but simply laid across tlie extensive plains.— Ed. S.-G.

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE-GOS SIP.

137

from the track at our approach, but uot in suffi-
cient time to get out of the way, and so we literally
ran into them. Those that struck the engine were
generally injured — in some cases completely
smashed— and blown off at either side, and it was
only those that happened to strike on our clothing
that were worth preserving. Occasionally a stray
dragon-fly or unlucky wasp would get in the way,
and even tiger-beetles flew into the trap. Now
and then a large wingless Brachypeplus, witli its
coarse spines, would make its presence felt. But all
were fish that came to the net, and soon the leaves of
my pamphlet were exhausted, all my pockets fdled,
and by the time the station was reached, I was only
too glad to return to the car and bottle my treasures.
Jn less than half an hour I took more insects than I
had room for, and, what was still better, found two
new species. We were much interested in watch-
ing the birds as they flew up before us. The
majority of the flock would pass to one side or the
other, but one or two would attempt to keep ahead
of the engine, straining every muscle, till, finally,
they would fall apparently exhausted, or be struck,
and drop lifeless. One was captured alive by
simply reaching out the hand and taking it. On
all future trips through new country, I shall endea-
vour to get into the good graces of the conductor
and engineer, and thus secure a place under the
head-light ; for, aside of its being a good " collect-
ing-ground," one gets a splendid view of the
country, without dust, without the usual jolting,
and with a delightful breeze into the bargain,
though it doesn't do to reflect too much on the
possibility of shipping a cow or ivio.— Charles B.
Dodge, in " Canadian Entomologist" Jan., 1872.

Pahasitic Rotifer (?) — I saw a little creature
like that described in the May number of Science-
Gossip as "a Parasitic Rotifer" adhering to the
side of one of my water-observing bottles, where it
remained some days. I thought at first it was a
cypris, and have been much puzzled about it. It
did not move about, but had a very rapid ciliary
motion as it stuck to the glass. I mentioned it to
our great naturalist here, and wished him to see it,
but I could not detach it from the spot. I hope
soon to observe some more, and then I shall call
attention to them. I have before mc now two
large bottles of water, which a month ago were not
over sweet, but full of Hydra virid/s and the com-
mon Entomostraca ; and now the water in both
bottles is as sweet as possible and quite clear,
through the agency of these minute creatures.
How beneficial they must be in cleaning our ponds
and ditches ! — Enquirer.

Economy of the Lary^ of the Small Eg gar
{E. lanestris).— ! have no doubt Mr. Barrett has
hit upon the true cause, or rather the causes, why
we do net succeed very well in rearing these in

breeding-cages, or in-door contrivances : — firstly
because they require sunshine, or plenty of air ;
and, secondly, because they need ample space to
extend their nest as they increase in size. Double
cocoons occur, amongst others, of the Bombgces and
Cuspidates. I have seen them in the Puss (Z).
vimda) ; and the caterpillars of that species, if
kept together in company, are rather fond of
placing their cocoons upon the top of those
formed by their brethren. In this case, the result
is dift'erent from what occurs in the double cocoon.
The one which is superimposed usually contains a
living piipa, and the lower cocoon a dried-up
pupa or larva, it having probably died from want
of air.—/. B. S. C.

Irritating Effects of Caterpillars' Hairs
(p. 2:2, Jan. No.).— I am inclined to think that
" G. II. S." is quite correct in supposing that dif-
ferent persons are very differently affected by the
urticating larvfe ; but the reason is not so much
any peculiarities in health of a transitory character,
but arises from varieties of temperament. The
mode of handling has also much to do with it, and,
possibly, the state of the weather. I have often
bred larvaj of B. quercns to maturity, yet never
experienced anything unpleasant. Others, how-
ever, besides " G. II. S.," have complained of such an
occurrence, but the species is certainly rot one, like
caja and aurijhia, under an evil repute for its urti-
cating properties. — /. B. S. C.

BOTANY.

The best Method of Drying Plants so as to
PRESERVE THEIR Colours.— The materials required
are common cartridge-paper, thick white blotting-
paper, cotton wadding and millboard, all cut to the
same size. The plants should be gathered in dry
weather, and soon after the flowers open, when
their colours are brightest. Succulent plants (such
as Daffodil, Orchis, or Stonecrop) should be put
into scalding water, with the exception of the
floicers, for a minute or two, then laid on a cloth to
dry. Arrange the specimens and papers in the
following order :— Millboard, cartridge-paper, wad-
ding (split open, and the glazed side placed next to
the cartridge-paper), blotting-paper; the specimens
having small pieces of wadding placed within and
around the flowers to draw off all the moisture
as quickly as possible, blotting-paper, wadding as
before, cartridge-paper, millboard. When the speci-
mens, &c., are thus arranged, heavy weights should
be put on them: about 301b. the first day, GO lb.
afterwards. Remove them from under pressuie in
a day or two ; carefully ti^ke away all the papers,
&c., except the Llctting-papers beticeen icMch the
specimens are placed ; put these in a warm air to
dry, whilst the removed papers, &c., are dried in

138

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

the iun, or by the fire. When dry (but uot warm),
place them iu the same order as before ; put all
under the heavier pressure for a few days, when (if
not succulent) they will be dry. Flowers of different
colours require different treatment to preserve
their colours. Blue flowers must be dried with
heat, either under a case of hot sand before a fire,
with a hot iron, or in a cool oven. Red flowers are
injured by heat: they require to be washed with
muriatic acid, diluted in spirits of wine, to fix their
colour. One part of acid to three parts of spirit is
about the proportion. The best brush with which
to apply this mixture is the head of a thistle when
in seed, as the acid destroys a hair-pencil, and in-
jures whatever it touches (except glass or china) :
therefore it should be used with great care. Many
yellow flowers turn green eveu after they have re-
mained yellow some weeks ; they must therefore be
dried repeatedly before the fire, and again after they
arc mounted on paper, and kept in a dry place.
Purple flowers require as much care, or they soon
turn a light brown. White flowers will turn brown
if handled or bruised before they are dried. Daisies,
Pansies, and some other flowers, must not be
removed from under pressure for two or three
days, or the petals will curl up. As all dried
plants (ferns excepted) are liable to be infested by
minute insects, a small quantity of the poison, cor-
rosive sublimate, dissolved in spirits of wine, should
be added to the paste, which it will also preserve
from mould. The best cement for fixing the speci-
mens on to the paper or cardboard is gum-paste. It
is composed of thick gum- water, and flour raixedjn
warm v.-ater, by adding the two together, warm,
and of a consistency that will run off the hair-
pencil. — O. H.

Erkattjm in Mr. Britten's Paper. — The
lettering to fig. 05 (page 99) should read as
follows : — Maple {Acer campestre), showing coty-
ledons and first and second pair of leaves. Drawn
(as well as the two preceding figures) by Miss
Giles, from specimens lent by Mr. 0. A. Eerris.

The Shamrock of Ireland. — The Dutch clover,
Trifolittm repens, is, according to the authors of
"Cybele Hibernica," "the plant still worn as ' sham-
rock' on St. Patrick's day (March 17), though
Medicago lupuliua, also one of the Leguminosaa, is
likewise sold in Dublin as the Shamrock." Edward
Llhwyd, the celebrated antiquary, writing iu Dec,
1699, to Tancred Robinson, says, after a recent visit
to Ireland, "their shamrug is our common clover."
("Phil. Trans.," No. 335.) Thrclkeld, the earliest
writer on the wild plants of Ireland, gives " Seamar-
ogc " (young trefoil) as the Gaelic name for Trifo-
Hum pratense album, and says expressly that this
is the plant worn by the people in their hats on
St. Patrick's day. Wade also gives Scamrog as

equivalent io'T/repens. The Wood Soirel, 0.z'«//s
acetosella (the Gaelic name for which is Scalgan), a
perennial plant, frequent on shady moist banks, aud
in damp^places ni woods and thickets, is also stated
by other^writerslto; be^theltrue Shamrock, "Sham
niar-oge " or " Shamrug." The delicate bright
green trefoil leaves of this plant have a sensitive
property, and close towards evening ; they also
possess an agreeable acid taste, and on that account
are frequently used in salads on the Continent. It
is, however, only the small trefoils, or clover,
particularly the T. repens mentioned above, which
are now generally used as an emblem on St. Patrick's
day in Ireland ; aud more especially as at this
period of the year the leaves of the Wood Sorrelhave
not usually appeared above ground ; and even if it
could be obtained, the clover which is pulled np
with the root is a much more durable plant for the
purjiose, as it retains its freshness for some time. —
W.II.B.

Plants in Hertfordsuire.— It may be in-
teresting to some botanists to know that a list of
localities of plants growing in Herts has just been
published by the Rev. R. H. W^ebb. It shows a
considerable increase in discoveries of localities of
new plants. — T. B. Blow.

GEOLOaY.

Graftolites. — Professor Allman has a splendid
paper on the natural history position of these
peculiar zoophytes, in the " Annals aud Magazine of
Natural History " for May. He regards the serrated
and other projections which characterize them, as
representing the " nematophores " iu such living
genera of Hydroida as Antenmdaria.

A HiTGE Pterodactyle. — A new species of this
extinct flying reptile has been found in the
cretaceous deposits of America, which must have
measured across the tips of the wings at least
twenty-five feet.

Eye-stones. — The bound volume of Science-
Gossip for 1871 has just come to hand; and in look-
ing over the "Notes and Queries" columns, I ob-
serve quite a number of communications on " Eye-
stones." I must confess I was surprised not to find in
the entire volume' a correct account of what they
really are. These " eyestones " arc found in the head
of several species oiAstacus Bartoiiii,OY "crawfish,"
as they are familiarly called here. When a mere
lad, myself and playmates invariably carried several
of these stones in our vest pockets for the purpose
of removing particles of dirt or other small sub-
stances which might get into our eyes. "V\'c
obtained fresh ones by catching the crawfish,
opening the head, and removing the " stones " from

H A R D W I C K E ' S S C 1 E N C E - G O 5 S 1 P .

139

there ; old ones were found among tlic course sands
left exposed by tke lowering of the water in the
streams. I once liad about fifty of them; my
father requested me to place them in a tea-saucer,
and having done so, my mother poured several
spoonfuls of strong vinegar over them, when these
stones apparently suddenly became possessed of
legs, and went " crawling " around in every direction.
—John H. Klippad, Ohio State Agricultural Geo-
logist.

NOTES AITD QUERIES.

TriE Queen OF Spain Fiiitillaey {A. lathonia).
— This butterfly is so exceedingly rare in the British
islands that little is known of its habit s_ here, and
the brief accoiait given by Mr. Boolh of its capture
in Jersey has its value, especially as he notes that
the species occurred in luctrn-fiekls. Its occa-
sional occurrence by solitary individuals only, in
Kent, Suifolk, and various places on or near the
coast, has seemed a remarkable thing, since we find
that its brethren of the same family, when they do
appear, are generally in parties, the fritillaries being
fond of "assembling." All, or almost all, the
specimens which have been thus taken have been
on the wing in autumn, when I presume the Jersey
insects were also taken, yet on the continent of
Europe it is undoubtedly double-brooded. Any
further particulars which Mr. Booth may have to
communicate about the "Queen of Spain,",: as
observed by him, vrould be very acceptable, I am
sure, to the readers of the Entomologist or Science-
Gossip.—/. R.S. C.

GoLD-EiSH. — Buckland, in his " Curiosities of
Natural Plistory," says, "One cause why these fish
do not increase, is that they devour each other. The
spawn is eaten, and the young fish also, by their
comrades. To keep up my stock I have been obliged
to take out the spawn, and keep the young fish dur-
ing the first few months of their lives in separate
vessels." — C. IFairond.

BiKD-FLY. — An ornithomya abounds on the short-
horned owl, the well-known species often met with
by sportsmen in broad daylight. We have not seen
it mentioned that a species of bird-fly is common on
the short-horued owl. — R. G.

Balanifoem Oak-galls. — I inclose a twig from
an oak which is covered with such galls, looking a
good deal like barnacles. They are probably the
work of a species of Cynips, perhaps C. Sieholdli, re-
corded as nev/ to England in the last number of the
Entomologisf s Annual. The insects are all fiown.^
R.O.

The Dodder [Cuscuta). — I found this plant in
our county of Stafford for the first time in lb70,
growing on red clover. Last year there v.'as no
clover in the field, but the plaut appeared on some
vetches; consequently it must have increased by
shedding its seed, and the young plaut must at first
have lived an independent life. I presume the
species is C. trifolii, Bab.-r/^. G.

Stag Beetle. — Both the male and female stag
beetle will bite when sufficienthj irritated. The fe-
male will often do so, but the nsale not so frequently.
Some years ago 1 had brought to me a very fine

male, L. ccrnus, Vi'hich had been caught on the pave-
ment in Holborn. 1 found it diificult to kill. (I used
then to place a little carbonate of ammonia in a small
box, and insert the insect, when it would as a rule
quietly die.) After being in the box some minutes
and the insect not showing any signs of dying, I
took it out with my fingers, and immediately expe-
rienced a severehite. The insect bit me so severely
as to make me wince. Although the great length
of the (male) mandibles would seem to tell against
their power to bite, still the insect can exert suffi-
cient force to deter any one from trving a second
time.—//. B. b\

Ottepv. — On the 3rd of April a full-grown female
otter was captured at Slyal, Cheshire. It was caught
in a trap which had been set for rats, and was only
held by two toes of its left hind foot. It crossed
the BoUin with the trap on its foot, and tried to
conceal itself in a rabbit-burrow, but the chain of
the trap having got entangled in a bush, prevented
the otter from getting more than half its body un-
derground. Another otter was caught near the
same place on the 13th February, 1S7Q.—G.H.II.

Scarcity of Moths, &c.— Your correspondent
" J. R. S. C." seems to me to draw unnecessarily
r.pon his imagination in trying to account for the
alleged scarcity of moths and butterflies after a damp
winter. Even the fact requires to be substantiated,
since the years of greatest scarcity of these insects
have been those which followed a wet summer rather
than a wet winter. Unquestionably a superabun-
dance of rain is exceedingly destructive to larva
both in summer and Vviutei', and probably also to
jjuppc, which are exposed to it ; but the great ma-
jority of pupra are protected by a silken or earthen
cocoon, or placed in a sheltered position, and it re-
mains to be proved that moisture can, in their
natural retreats, get at them to any serious extent.
"J. E,. S. C." seems to overlook the facts that in mild
winters the ground is open to the careful investiga-
tion of birds ; tiiat predaceous beetles and their larvee
are lively and require food ; that those formidable
foes to pupai of all kinds, the earwigs, are also
able to carry on their destructive researches at a
time vvlien there are but few flowers to serve them
as food ; and worse than ail, that mice are able to
search out their favourite tit-bits at the roots of
trees, the sides of palings, on hedge banks, and else-
where ; so that, without the assistance of damp and
mould, there is abundant reason for any scarcity of
perfect insects. Of hybernating larvse the very
large majority feed upon low plants which are al-
ways to "be obtained ; how then can the larvae be
tempted forth by the mildness of the weather, and
killed iy starvation? And in the case of the few
species wliicli pass the v/inter in the egg state, it is
iiardly necessary to remind "J. R. S. C." that the
same amount of warmth which hatches the eggs pro-
vides the food upon which the larva? feed, while in
those cases in wtiich the eggs naturally hatch before
the opening of the leaves, the catkins of some trees,
and the bark of the young shoots of others, serve
the voung larvae for food until the leaves appear. —
C.G.B.

Shoi;e Wainscot {L. U floral is). —\ have much
])leasureiu announcing this district as a new locality
for Littoralis. 1 believe it is only known in three
other places at present; viz., Isle of Wight, New
Brighton in Cheshire, and Lytham in Lancashire.
Erom the nature of the coast I thought that Lit-
toralis ought to be here, and that it only wanted

140

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

looking for to find it. After searching for three
days, I found a larva dead on the sand, evidently-
dropped by some bird. I tlien set to work with re-
doubled energy; I soon found two more, and I now
possess seventeen good lively specimens, and have
good hopes of obtaining more as my eye gets prac-
tised in finding them. — J. C. Herveij, Pokesdown,
Riiigwood.

Canine Gyrations. — I have been much amused
when perusing the scientific disquisitions on my
habit of turning round, head foremost, several times
previous to my lying down to sleep. Be assured,
Mr. Editor, there is no need of any learned lucubra-
tions concerning my so-called "gyrations." If man
were covered with thick hair from bead to toe, he
too would make simdar turnings, in order that he
might lie down in comfort with his outer envelope
smoothly packed beneath him. As regards his hair-
protected head, man does act on a similar plan when
about to icst it on a pillow, or to place it in a
nightcap, though from length of habit, he is, periiaps,
unconscious of the practice; but, depend upon it, he
would find himself sadly discomforted were he to lie
down with his hair "against the grain; " and, with-
out assuming any great amount of science, I may
venture to claim from my illustrious biped friend
permission to continue an obvious and simple
means of comfort to myself as a hair-covered
quadruped. — Fido.

Habits of Spidees. — In the earlier numbers of
Science-Gossip, it was, I consider, very clearly
proved that under certain conditions the geometric
f pider will devour its own web. I do not think,
liowever, that it has ever been observed that the
web of the house spider serves for its provision
during the winter months. I may preface my re-
marks by stating that for some time past I have
been in the habit of keeping spiders in confinement,
in order to watch their habits ; and among others, I
procured, at the latter end of last summer, a very
large and hairy-legged black spider {Tegenaria, sp.)
in an outhouse near London. I obtained also, at
the same time, a still larger spider, the finest I have
ever seen in this country, which lived in confine-
ment only about six weeks. Its first or front pair
of legs were much longer than the others, and
measured exactly dy'o in. from claw to claw. I
should be glad to learn ils name, and whether it is
not, as has occurred to me from their similarity in
many respects, the male or female of the still living
species of spider, which has a larger body and
"iihorter, but equally hairy, legs. 'J'hese spiders seem
to care only for the common little brown housefiy,
and \ull not, however hungry, touch a blue-bottle.
Tha number of files sucked dry by the surviving
spider previous to the end of last year was most
astonishing; and the more flics it consumed the
more web it spun, in layers one over the other, as
close in texture almost as tissue-paper. But the
winter came, the flies disappeared, and I expected
my spider w ould hybernate or become torpid ; no
such thing, howc ver, happened, and in midwinter it
seemed just as active as ever. I then noticed some
curious holes in the web, which looked as if it had
been cut away with some sharp instrument, and it
kept on going and going, until altogetiier about six
or seven supeiiicial inclies of this paper-like web
had been devoured. But the spider did not thrive
jii this food, and became very thin. Now 1 cau
again piocure him flies, and he is getting plump.
Contrary to the observations of some of your pre-

vious correspondents, this spider is very readily
cheated, and has now become so tame that he runs
out to be fed, whenever I open the jar in which he
is confined, to give him a fly. He used formerly to
retire to the recesses of his cell on such occasions.
This spider is, as most of his tribe, nocturnal in his
habits, and feeds chiefly at night. I estimate the
extreme spread of his longest legs to be about three
inches. 1 should be glad to learn his specific name,
and to know whether he is usually a house spider;
he was originally dislodged from behind a gas-meter.
How many diiferent kinds of spiders are known as
house spiders ? I have certainly come across two, it"
not three. — Gilbert R. Redgrave.

The Winter Food of Wood-Pigeons.— In
answer to your correspondent's query on this sub-
ject, I send a few observations of my own. Having
had a great deal of pigeon-shooting on a farm be-
tween Guildford and Woking, where during the
winter months there is generally a flock of several
thousands, which roost in the fir plantations near,
I find as a rule that they have been feeding on
acorns and clover, acorns especially as long as they
can get them ; but if not looked after well, they will
very soon destroy a field of young clover, which
they arc very fond of. During harvest they are
very destructive in the pea-field, but I have not
noticed their feeding on other kinds of corn. —
/. L. a

Plantain-leaved Leopard's Bane (Dorouicitm
plantagineim). — This is, I believe, considered a rare
plant, found only in a few places in England. It
may not be uninteresting to some of the readers of
Science- Gossip to know that I have found it grow-
m" at Astley, near Stourport. The plant is now in
full hlomw.^ Thofdcis Wedley.

Do Birds eat the Shells of their Eggs or
NOT ? — We have watched our canaries liatching
their eggs, and have never found any shells about
the cage. The same with hedge-sparrows, &c., in
the garden. Mrs. Howitt, in her paper "Birds and
their Nests," in the Family Friend, seems to think
that birds carry their eggs away to prevent the nest
being discovered. Can any of your readers solve
this question ?— i''. M. M.

Starlings.— A lady contributor to Science-
Gossip, Miss Barbara Wallace Fyfe, in whom I am
pleased to recognize an old friend, and whose
talented father first introduced me to Science-
Gossip, must, I am sure, mean, when she says
that starlings are, like swallows, migratory birds,
that they partially migrate from one English county
to another, — not that they, like swallows, quit these
shores, i know from personal observation that
they winter in Hants, Dorset, and also in this part
(Anglcsea) of North Wales. They assendjie in
large fiocks, and invariably, if there are rooks in
the vicinity, accompany these birds. — 3Irs. Alfred
Wuiiicy.

A SCIENTIFIC education is one of the needs of the

time. Science is transforming the world and revo-
lutionizing opinion. The leaders of thougiit are
trained in the laboratories rather than educated in
the schools. As a means of mental discipline,
scientific study is fast cstablishijig itself on a level
with the '■ humanities " of olden time as a teacher
of patience ; of the humility that sits at Nature's
feet and learns her ways ; of the intellectual
tiiorougliness which gathers all the facts be'.ore it

H A 11 D W ] C K E' S S C 1 E N C K- G O S S 1 P.

141

generalizes, Science lias no equal. Its s))irit, if not
always that of its professors, is toaclialjlcuess ; its
liictliod, if not invariably their temper, is humility ;
its instrument is reason emancipated from passion ;
nnd the tendency of its sludy is to lift men out of
the region of instinct and impulse into that of
reason. As an exclusive culture it would doubtless
be onesided ; it is, however, as a counterpoise to an
existing: oncsidedness that wc need to have it
adopted in all our schools.— Dr^iV^ News.

Sugaring fok Nocture.— The original and
best mixture for this purpose is 1 lb. of stro)i(j foots
sugu', a tablespoonful of gin or rum to half a pint
of porter or ale. The success greatly depends on
the quality of the sugar and temperature of the
night : when the latter is warm, moist, and with a
moderate wind, failure seldom occurs from June to
jNIovember : prior to June the bait is of little use. Do
not be discouraged. I remember once sugaring in
the Isle of Wight for a fortnight at the same place :
the first week I think hardly a dozen moths
aijpeai"ed ; the second week as many thousands.
Tlie proper way to apply the sugar is with a
moderately large painter's brush. Make one or two
stripes on the tree, say a foot long. If economy is
desired, saturate some pieces of coarse calico, about
4 or 5 inches square, with the mixture, and dispose
the squares wherever you please, gathering them up
again on your last round. With the addition of a very
little more syrup, these will last many months and
be a great saving iu sugar. This plan is especially
applicable on the coast and other places where
there are no trees. On the sand-hills at Deal, which
is a place of this description, the practice used to
he to tie up the long grass in knots, and sugar on
them. I have seen four or five collectors there at
one time, each of whom had his particular route,
liaving tied his knots iu daylight. — An Old Eiitomo-
logisf.

Grtllits vieidissimus.— This grasshopper I
have taken not uncommonly when sugaring for
mollis: they sucked the syrup greedily — probably
llicy might thrive ou sweets .in captivity. — An Old
Eiilomologist.

Scottish Natural History.— I should feel
much obliged if you, or any of the readers of
Science-Gossip, could inform me of any work ou
Scottish Natural History and Scottish Lepidoptera;
or on the Natural History and Lepidoptera of Edin-
burgh, or of the South of Scotland.— (?. Ford.

Saffron. — Somebody has observed that " the
deeper the M^ell of knowledge that the rill of popu-
lar information flows out of, the better." I fear
the well pertaining to Helen E. Watney is not of a
fathomless character, or she could not have penned
the last paragraph in her article in the last number
of Science-Gossip (see p. 108). She says, "The
Meadow-saffrou is a different plant ; from it colchi-
cum is produced." What is colchicum ? And she
further adds, "that it possesses no medicinal
virtues, she believes." Now it so happens that
saffron-, i\\& dried style and stigma of the 6Vo««
sativus, is held in very little esteem as a mediciue at
ihe present day, being chiefly employed as a colour-
ing and flavouring material ; whereas the iMeadow-
safFrou {Colchicum autumiiale) has been held in
great repute from a very remote period ; and pre-
parations from the bulb and seed are daily pre-
scribed by medical men, and kept in every chemist's
shop in the kingdom, — U. B.

Saffron and Meabow-Saffron. — Your talented
correspondent Mrs. Watney, in giving some details
of tlic growth of saflVon in last month's Gossip, dc-
tcribes the plant as flowering a week or two after
the appearance of the leaves. I have hitherto be-
lieved the reverse to be the order of progression,
and I fhid my text-books tell the student that the
leaves "appear just as the flowers begin to fade."
This is perplexing to one unable to set doubts at
rest by personal observation of the plant. Although
saffron may still, as Mrs. Watney states, be a fa-
vourite remedy for nervousness with old women ou
account of its slightly stimulant action, it is no
longer of importance as a medicine in this country,
if we except its administration to our feathered
pets when moulting, — a common practice ; whether
beneficial or otherwise I know not. It is now
chiefly employed as a colouring agent, the deep
orange tint which it readily imparts cither to water
or spirit, rendering it of considerable use in the arts
for colouring toilet soaps, lozenges, &c. I should
like, if you will permit me, to say a few words on
Meadow-safl'ron {Colchicum ant iimnale, Linn.). Mrs.
Watney says she believes that neither colchicum
nor the " early purple crocus — the C. vermis or
spring crocus " (? Scilla venia, Huds. — L believe we
have no indigenous crocus) possesses any medici-
nal virtue. This, however, is so far from being the
case with the colchicum, that it may be advisable
to sketch its properties and medicinal uses, and
thus nip error in the bud. This plant belongs to
an almost universally poisonous order {Melanlhace<:e),
and is itself no exception to the rule. Beth the
corn and seeds contain an alkaloid {Colchicia),
which is a powerful poison. In small doses re-
peated, colchicum is largely used in medicine to
relieve the pain of gout and rheumatism, and is tJie
active ingredient in several celebrated nostrums for
the cure of gout. Colchicum seeds are remarkable
for their hardness, as those wdio have pulverized
them with pestle and mortar will doubtless remem-
ber.-/, jr. While.

Sugaring for Nocture.— In answer to Mr.
Elliott's question "how to make the best mixture
for sugaring for noctua;," I may state, that for
some time past I have been accustomed to use a
compound made of the undermentioned ingredients,
which has proved most efficacious; viz., ^Ib. of moist
sugar, I lb. of black treacle, and about a glassful of
" porter " (beer). These should be allowed to sim-
mer until reduced to nearly the same cousistency
as treacle, and before being used should have half
a wineglassful of rum added. — H. A. Auld.

Does Gaslight kill Plants?— Gas is most
assuredly injurious to the growth of plants, and
even to the preservation of cut flowers. I am very
fond of both, and always have a large supply in my
rooms, where I burn a great deal of gas. I find
that the heat and smoke from the gas have a very
deleterious efiect on growing plants. They flag
and droop, having a scorched, withered look. The
only way in which I can keep them at aU fresh is
by constantly using a sponge and lukeicarm water ;
first syringing them well and then sponging the
leaves. After this operation it is wonderful how
refreshed the plants look. When they show signs
of droojnng very much, I remove them to a room
where there is no gas used, for a week or tw-o, and
the change of air seems to restore them ; but to
koep plants in a room where there is much gas
burnt constantly is simply a matter of mipossibiluy.

142

HAEDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

They require a great deal of extra attention to pre-
serve them for even a time, and unless given a
ehauge of air, very speedily droop aud die. Cut
flov^^ers in water are almost worse to preserve, the
water becomes heated and causes the stems to decay
rapidly : so, to make them last for a few days, it is
necessary to change the Avater before leaving them
at night, and I find a very good plan is to put
tliem in a dark cellar till morning. Gas stoves are
considered very injurious in hothouses ; in fact, if
tliey are used, they are generally placed outside the
hothouses, and hot-air or water-pipes introduced. —
Barbara Wallace Fyfe.

How TO Stock a Pond. — I know that the Hon.
Grantley P. Berkeley, of Alderney Manor, Poole,
Dorcet, had a new river made in his estate and
stocked it with (ish from ova. I saw some of the
beds prepared for trout ova, and they came on
beautifully and most successfully. 1 dare say if
" P. C." will write to Mr. Berkeley, he will give
him the information he requires. — Barbara Wallace
Fyfe.

Sea-Eagles. — It is most probable that the
eagles killed in Somersetshire were immature
Sea-Eagles.— G^.

SurrosED Paeasite of Elm. — The parasite on
Elm figured in the last number of Science-
Gossip is the common Dog-tick {Ixodes vicinus),
which is found in all sorts of unusual situations ; in
fact, anywhere, and only attaches itself to the dog
when it happens to meet with one. I have fre-
quently found it among grass in sweeping for small
diptera.— ^. Capron, M.D.

Local Ploras.— Referring to a suggestion in
Science-Gossip (page 163, July, 1S71), concerning
Local Ploras, I would advise botanists, entomo-
logists, geologists, and " ists " in general, who con-
template a visit to the Isle of Wight, to procure
Venables's guide, published by Stanford, Charing
Cross (price, I think, G^.). I may safely affirm that lie
who has once made this book his companion when
on the island will not be likely to repeat his visit
without it. Allow me to suggest that naturalists,
when they visit any locality and come across any
really useful guide to the botany, &c., of the place,
should let the same be known for the benefit of
brother naturalists.— i/. R. Warrington.

South London Entomological' Society,
26 and 28, Newington Causeway, S.E. — Meetings
held on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. Objects— formation
of a library and diffusion of entomological science
by means of papers aud exhibitions. Subscription,
(Sd. per month. New members are invited. —
Treasurer {pro fern.), Mr. J. G. Marsh, 842, Old
Kent Poad. Hon. Secretary, to whom all com-
munications should be addressed, Mr. J. P. Barrett,
33, lladnor Street, Peckham, S.E.

Endromis versicolor (page 115). — In answer
to Mr. Gascoyne, I beg to inform him that the state-
ment as to this species being a web-weaver was
made not from my own experience — which would
incline me to ilr. Gascoyne's way of thinking, — but
from an observation of Newman, who informs us, at
page 47 of " British Moths," that " the caterpillars
come out about the 1st of May. At first they are
gregarious, spinning a web over the twig, and.
attaching themselves by their claspers." In my
own collecting experience I have only once been
able to obtain the larvae, and then, like Mr. Gas-

coyne, did iiot observe any attempt at web-weaving.
I imagined at the time that this arose from my
having reared them from the egg, and the conse-
quent cessation of a necessity for external defence.

— Charles Lovekin.

Shamrock. — An Irish lady tells me that " the
true Shamrock is the Trifolium repens, and sham-
rock is the Irish name lor this plant." I always
thought the Trifolium repens was the clover known
generally as "Dutch clover," and this lady's de-
finition of the Shamrock confirms it ; for an Irish
gentleman brought me, last summer, a root of tJie
Shamrock, and 1 exclaimed on seeing it, " How
like the Dutch clover we used to sow on the upper
fields at home." The Arabic for trefoil, strange to
say, is Shanirakh, and the same plant was held
sacred by the Persians in Iran, as emblematical of
their Triads. Then, again, readers of Pliny's works
will remember that he says "serpents ai'e never seen
on trefoil, and it prevails against the stings of
snakes and scorpions." There seems somewhat of
a coincidence between this and St. Patrick's miracle
of the reptiles ; but, alas ! for Pliny's veracity, I saw
a snake last year on some trefoil. — H. E. Watney.

The True Shamrock (p. 113). — ^The etymology
of this word is clearly from the native Irish, viz. :
seamrog, i.e., trefoil, the tliree-leaved wild clover.
The prefix seam is to all intents and purposes our
word "charm," phonetically altered. The "s"
has the power of " sh," and the word is allied to
seun, "an amulet ;" cf. the Welsh sicyn, "magic."
Trifolium repens, known as white or Dutch clover,
is the native Shamrock of Ireland ; although some,
mistakenly, claim the name for Oxalis acetosella, the
common Wood Sorrel; but that in Irish is seamsog.
It is usual now to show fancy or cultivated trefoils
as the true Shamrock ; but it could scarcely have
been so in St. Patrick's day. The real poetical
charm, however, clings to the four-leaved Shamrock.
—A. H.

Are Plants injured by Gas and Gaslight ?—
The presence of gas in a room would most certainly
be very injurious to the well-doing of plants grown
in that room. Plants, like human beings, require a
season of rest. They sleep in the dark ; therefore to
keep them constantly under the influence of light
would weaken them, and eventually destroy them.
In this way gaslight kills them. There is, we all
know, a very close resemblance in the functions of
animals and leaves. The air inhaled by animals pro-
ceeds to the lungs, and acts on the blood. The air
inhaled by plants, through tlieir foliage, acts upon
the sap. Oxygen aud carbonic acid gas combined
form the air essential to the health of plants, and as
we in sleep exhale less carbonic acid than in our
waking hours, plants give out a diminished quantity
of oxygen during the night ; but an over-amount of
carbonic acid in the air will destroy plants. It is a
singular fact that nearly every flower requires a
particular degree of light for its full expansion. . I
have been trying some experiments during this last
year with respect to the effect of light on plants,
but have only proved what was well known before ;
still the chemistry of botany is a most interesting
study, and 1 wish some of tlie readers of Science-
Gossip would kindly recommend me a good work
on it. — Helen E. Watney.

Phosphorescence. — What is the correct expla-
nation of the luminosity of two pieces of loaf-sugar
rubbed together in the dark ? Is it electric or phos-
phoric light ?—R. II. Nisbett Browne.

iiA HDVVICKE'S SCI EK C E-G O S SIP.

143

Gold-tail Moth.— In Mr. Lovekin's "Notes
on the Web-weaving Caterpillars," on p. 5S (or 85
in my copy), he includes in his list the Gold-tail, a
species which I never knew to be a web-weaver at
all, if we except the tiny web (or rather cocoon)
in which the young caterpillar hybernates during
the winter. His remarks would seem to apply to
the social tent-weaving caterpillars, the habits of
which are not shared by the Gold-tail caterpillar.
In this neighbourhood the caterpillar of the Gold-
tail is seldom or never found on the Blackthorn,
but feeds in great profusion on the Hawthorn, and
also on the Elm.— /T, H. JFarner, Kingston, Abing-
don.

CtrRiors Habits op Swallows.— I can confirm
" G. E. R.'s " remarks under the above heading in so
far as to prove the repugnance exhibited by the
Swallow tribe to the birds of prey, having on two
or three occasions seen a flock of Hirundines chasing
small hawks ; but with this difference, that the
pursuers were not swallows but sand-martins
{Hirundo riparia). In addition to the anecdotes
related by " G. E. E.," as to the pugnacity of the
Swallow, I will mention another which proves the
Swallow to be an intelligent bird, and also occa-
sionally actuated by a revengeful spirit. A gentle-
man when out shooting one day brought to the
ground a hen swallow which was skimming in the air
in company with her mate. The latter at once dashed
at the gentleman, struck him iu the face with its
wing, and continued pertinaciously to annoy him
for a long time. Eor weeks did the revengeful
little bird maintain " war to the knife " with the
murderer of his -gentle partner, attacking him
'whenever an opportunity offered. _ On_ Sundays it
failed to recognize the gentleman in his change of
dress, and let him pass unmolested. This anecdote
has been well attested. — W. H. JFarner, Kingston,
Abingdon.

Vakiety of the Ttjfted Duck.— I procured a
variety of this duck about the end of April, 1869.
The crest was a deep crimson, the head fading into
deep black towards the neck, and then beginning
to be streaked with silver, and gradually merging
into a broad white band immediately above the
chest. The silver streakings and black then began
again, and continued down the back. The breast
was marked with one ring of black, and was pure
white all the way down from that. The legs and
feet were flesh-colour ; tlie iris was orange-yellow.
I carefully observed all the specimens in the British
Museum of Fulignla cristata, but they were all
more or less buff-coloured. The reason for tbe
peculiarity was, I think, the duck's beginning to
put on summer plumage. — G. E. R.

Lesser Pettychap. — The Lesser Pettychap, it
may not be generally known, is the same as the
Chiff-chaff; the correct Latin name of which is
not Sylvia hippolais, but S. rufa. — G.

The Sappkoj; again. — At page 281, vol. vii., of
Science-Gossip, "J. E. C." inquires what plant Mr.
Walter Thornbury, in describing the town of Saffron
Walden, refers to, as " a plant resembling a thistle,
yet without down," &c. The plant is the Cartha-
mus tindorius, Lin.,— Bastard Saffron, or Safflower,
an annual of the Composite family, and a native of
Egypt, having sharp-pointed, oval, sessile, spiny
leaves. The flowers grow in bracts inclosed iu a
roundish spiny involucre ; the florets are of an
orange-colour, turning red as they dry. The dried
flowers are exported in large quantities from Egypt

and the Levant ; are used for dyeing, and also to
adulterate the true saffron. I cannot think that
this has ever been cultivated in England for com-
mercial purposes, as it is a half-hardy annual. The
(rue safi'ron is the dried stigmas of the Crocus
satims, and was first cultivated at Saffron Walden
somewhere about the time of Edward III., from
which circumstance the town has derived its name.
— Josh. B, Bodman.

A Shower op Ebogs.— I really thought, until I
read " M. A. B.'s " inquiry in the January part of
Science-Gossip, that showers of frogs, like showers
of gold, were exploded myths. Doubtless the
latter fable had its moral, and we occasionally see an
elderly " Zeus " of modern times win a fair young
" Danaii ;" but I do not believe the former either
serves to " point a moral or adorn a tale," unless it
be a fairy one. I will, however, briefly relate to
" M. A. B." what a very good naturalist friend of
mine said to me iu explanation of this very subject,
apropos of a newspaper account of "a shower of
frogs." Every female frog is capable of producing
1,000 young ones ; these little froggies hide in
crevices and under stones, waiting to come forth
directly the first summer showers pour down. They
appear in. multitudes immediately genial rain falls,
and some good folks, ever since the days of
Ai'istotle, have been found to imagine that they drop
from the clouds, or that they have been taken up
from a marsh by a whirlwind, and let fall. In the
case of fish it is different, seeing that they are never
said to grow on trees, or on laud, save in comic
song-books. A whirlwind is the cause of their
sudden descent from an element they are not sup-
posed to inhabit, — the air, to another region equally
unsuitable, — the earth. Some curious facts are re-
corded in the "Proceedings of the American
Academy of Science " with respect to frogs. You
have so many American contributors to your pages,
that I look with interest to replies from them on
the subject of frog showers.— if. E. Watney.

Abnormal Cherries.— There is a Morella
cherry-tree against a north wall in our garden,^
which for two years past has borne numbers of
double, triple, quadruple, and one quintuple cherry.
The occurrence of these forms in 1870 led me to
examine the flowers in 1871, and from a superficial
observation I found that to each flower there were
from four to ten pistils and as many ovaries, some
proving abortive and some fruitful. It was in
the summer of 1871 that the quintuple specimen
occurred. — P. P.

The White Ermine {Ardia lubricipeda). —
People don't usually trouble themselves mucli
about the meaning of Latin names, yet some may
have speculated as to the reason why the above-
named was called " slippery-footed." It might have
arisen from the fact that the moth, when taken up
or touched, at once loses its foot-hold, and feigns
death, and therefore seems as if it had an insecure
or slippery hold of whatever substance it is reposing
upon. But I am rather inclined to think that the
habits of the caterpillar originated the names ; for it
has two very distinct modes of progression. Under
ordinary circumstances it crawls along rather lan-
guidly, but should it be alarmed, or suddenly roused,
it moves with a degree of velocity which is really as-
tonishing, though this is not kept up for any length
of time ; hence it may have received the appellation
lubridpeda, because at certain moments the cater-
pillar can slide or glide along as if it were pass-
ing over a slippery or lubricated surface. — /. R. S. C.

lli

IIARUWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

All communications relative to advertisements, post-office
orders, and orders for the supply of this Journal, should be
addressed to tiie PirBLtsitKii. All contributions, books,
and pamiihlets for the Editor should be sent to 192,
Piccadilly, London, W. To avoid disappointment, contri-
butions should not be received later than the 15th of each
month. A'o noti'.c ivh'iterer run he tiiken of cotnmunicii-
tiiins which do nut ciintnin the iiiiine and nddre>is of the
uriter, not necessarily for publication, if desired to be with-
leld. We do lint undertake to answer any queries not
s-pecially connected with Natural History, in accordance
with our acceptance of that term ; nor can we answer
queries which might be solved by the correspondent by an
r.ppeal to any elementary book on the subject.

Ghegory. — It is not our custom to particularize any indi-
vidual dealer or tradesman to the disadvantage of the rest.

E. I. — Our experience of Gum Dammar leads us to give the
])relerence to Canada balsam !or mountinp; DiatomaceK ;
we find that the striae are less easily resolved when the gum
is used ; for vegetable and insect preparations it answers
very well, but is not more easily manipulated than Canada
balsam.

J. M. W. — The small black spots on the raw American cot-
ton are the spore-cases of CAtp^owM/m, a genus of microscopic
fun2:i. See page 1/5 of Cooke's " Microscopic Fungi" (Hard-
wicke, London) for further detailed account.

I.TossKS. — 1. Hi/pnum serpens ; 2. Homaliatrichomanoides;
3. Aiiomodon viticulosus ; 4. Leucubvyum glaucuni, — li. B.

A Ne*v Slbscriber. — The supposed new species of beetle
is a common weevil {Otiorhj/nrhiis siilcnfn.i. Fab.), a species
well known to make havoc among all kinds of plants. We
would suggest to our correspondent that beetles do not grow
in the perfect state, and that the e////r« are not "pseudo-
wins-cases." See SciKXCE-Gossip, vol. for 1870.

R. H. I..— Your query had been mislaid. The parcel sent
contained a moss, a species of Hppninn. which is very sensi-
tive to moisture. It is common at the base of old trees.

G. n. — The egg-cases and eggs are those of the common
Dog-fish, which may be distinguished from those of the Skate
by the longer tendrils of the four ends.

E. M. P. — The specimen sent is Clur/tonin. perfoliutii, an
American plant which has domesticated itselfiuthis country.
It is fometimes eaten as a salad.

T. \V. — We cannot undertake to name specimens of the
nature of those sent. They were the midribs of the fronds
of some Rhodosperm sea-weeds. That is all we know.

H. B. T. — We know of no other plan for preparing chalk
for microscopic examination than that usually adopted ; viz.,
rubbing the lump of chalk down with a toothbrush in a cup
of water, and when a sufficient quantity is obtained, pouring
it into a test-tube or a two-ounce phial, and shaking it well,
and decanting all that does not subside in the course of two
minutes, tepeatuig the process as long as the water continues
cloudy. The deposit remaining in the test-tube may then be
b ilcd in some liquor potassae and again well washed. If the
chalk is hard and does not readily yield to the brush, a lump
of it may be boiled in a weak solution of glauoer salt and then
caicfiiUv waslied. The oriranisms in the chalk generally re-
quire to be mounted in Canada baham.

EXCHANGES.

Notice.— Only one " Exchange '' can be inserted at a time
by the same individual. The maximum length (except for
correspondents not residing in Great Britain) is three lines.
Only objects of Natural Hi>tory permitted. Notices must be
Ugibly written, in full, as intended to be inserted.

Leaf of Oiiosma tnurirum with peculiar stellate hairs
(mounted!, in exchange for other well-mounted objects.—
J. Sargent, Jun., Fritchley, near Derby.

Section of Porcupine's Quill (mounted), for any good
microscopic object well mounted and of interest.— J. M.
lloare. The Hill, Ilampstead.

Caudicum Norvk(;iu,-\i, Prctimculus f^Ii/chimris, Stc, for
other British marine shells.— A. W. Langdoii, Llanrwst
House, Hastings.

A liberal allowance in Diatoms (selected and arranged in
groups), for Ilyulonema mirn/iitis, Wheel-plates of Chirodota,
or Anchors of Synapfa.— G. Moore, Dereham Road, Norwich.

EoGS of the Puss Moth in exchange for others.— G. A.
Bi.kenhead, Post-office, Sale, near Manchester.

Griphites, Rhynconella, and Corals, in exchange for
other fossils. — H. Richards, 10, Ellingboro' Crescent, Weston-
super-Mare.

For Reproductive Organs of Moss (Bryum hornum). senl
stamped directed envelope to J. H. Martin, 86, Week Street,
Maidstone.

Carefully mounted slides of Glnnrn Erde, or cuttle-fi^li
shell, for polariscope, offered for mounted palates of mollusks
or other slides.— A. B. C, Belmont, Dartmouth.

A FEW British Birds' Skins and Sternums of Eagle Owl,
Long-earod do.. Goshawk, Glaucous Gull, and Lesser B'.ack-
backed Gull, for birds' eggs, or Lepidoptera in any stage. —
S- L- Mosley, Almoiidbury Bank, Huddersfield.

Spicules from Doris tnherculata mounted, for other
mounted objects. — John C. Hutclieson, 8, Lausdowne Cres-
cent, Glasgow.

W'an'tkd, Animal Parasites (mounted), correctly named.
Entomological slides offered in exchange. — Address, E.
Lovett, Holly Mount, Croydon.

Lepism.a. saccharina. — Send stimped envelope. — S. C.
Hincks, Runfold Lodge, Farnham, Surrey.

MouNTKu Microscopic objects in exchange for other
mounted objects. — T. W. Cowan, Horsham.

S.MALL, but fair, specimens of Parn'isxia palustris, Sili-
fhnrpia eiiropeea, Htimeni>pltyllum Tunbridgt:)iSP, Sec, for
other of the rarer British plants.— Mrs. A. Allen, Barcombe
Rectory, Lewes.

Microscopic objects (mounted) in exchange for otiier ob
jects.— T. W. Cowan, Korsham.

SiPTixGS of Sponge Sand, for object and stamped en-
velope.—H. R. Warrington, 9, St. George's Terrace, Baras-
bury.

Wa-vted, Fish Remains from the Coal Measures, for Wen-
lock and Woolhope Brachinpnda. — Apply, sending lists, to the
Rev. W. H. Painter, 2, Belgrave Street, Derby.

Roots of Ophioglo^sum for roots of Botrychiiim Lunnriti.
— Miss Ida Rawlins, Gwastad Hall, Wiexham, North Wales.

Three single-lined Gorgonias, attached to valve of Tflliim,
for three inches of Glass-rope sponge. — R. J. Nelson, Stokej
Devonport.

Eggs of Water and Land Birds offered for larva: or eggs of
E. VfrsicoUira. — Mrs. Battersby, Cromlyn, Rathowen, We.st
Meath, Ireland.

Larv.'e and Pupre of B. Querots and Caja, eggs of.?. Fnpidi,
for larva.' or pupaj of Villica, C. Dotitinula, kc.—R. Gailit,
Market Square, Alford, Lincolnshire.

yEciDiu.M Ari offered ill exchange for equally rare fungi,
good botanical or po'ariscope objects.— Henry Pocklington,
12, Margaret Street, Hull.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

" Corals and Coral Islands." By James D. Dana, LL.D.,
Professor of Geology and M'lieralogy in Yale College, &c.
London ; Sampson Low & Co. 1872.

" Botany for Beginners." By Maxwell T. Masters, M-D-,
F.R.S. London: Bradbury, Evans, i*v Co. 1872.

" May Flowers." By the Rev. James Harris, M. A., Head
Master of Cathedral Grammar School, Cliester. Loudon :
Griffith & Farran. 1872.

" The Journal of Botany." May.

"The Canadian Naturalist and Quarterly Journal of
Science." No. 3.

" The American Naturalist." No. 4.

"The Canadian Entomologist." No. 4, April.

"The Lens." Part II.

" Report of Geological Survey of Ohio." 1870.

" Fourth Annual Report of Noxious, Beneficial, and other
Insects of the State of f.lissouri."

" Fruit Trees," from the French of Du Breuil. London
Lockwood Si Co.

COM.MUN'ICATION'S Rkckivkd.— A. C. 11.— F. K.— G. M. —
C. R.— A. W. L.— J. S.— J. H.— H. R.— H.B. S.— Z. E. G.—
II. E. W.— T. S.-R. J. K.— G. A. B.— C. J.— W. A.- J. C. H.
— C. G. IS.— A. H.— W. H. B.— F. K.-J. H.— R. L.-R. H.—
R. W.-H. E. B.— J. S.— F. B. B.— C. L. W.-R. H. A.—
W. S. G.— E. W.— R. H. A.-R. G.— 11. P.— H. E. F.— H. B.
T.-J. S.— iM. A. D.-A. P. J.— C. A. R.— C. C. A.— J. H. C.
—J. T.— J. R. D.-J. A.-L. T.— J. R. S. C— W. E.- H. F. P.
— C. S.— G. H. H.-C. J. W. R.— J. G.— W. K.— A. G. G.—
J. B.— G. O. H.— S. B.-W. H. P. -J. Le B.-W. B.— J. G.—
C. R. E.-C. L.— J. F.— J. A. P.-T. B. B.— A. B. C.-G. F.—
H. A. A.— H. B.— J. W. W.— P. P.— J. B. B.-W. H. P.— G.
E. R.-C. L.-E. C— W. H. W.— G.-B. W. F.

HARDWICKE'S 5 C lEN CE- GO S S I P.

lis

COLLECTING AND PEBSEEVING.

No. VI.— BEETLES.
By E. C. Eve.

^^ 11 E general rules,
so ably expounded
by Dr. Knaggs in
his recent article on
Lepidoptera in this
Magazine, as to con-
stant alertness and
making "the reason
why " the starting-
of investigation, apply
equal force to the col-
ot' Culeoptera, and need
here recapitulated. But
0 not, in the instance of
latter, require generally to
be observed, except as to the
perfect state of beetles ; for,
owing to Ihe hidden earlier
conditions of life of most of
those insects, and to the long
period during which these
conditions exist, it is but sel-
dom that the pursuit of rear-
ing them, so universally and
profitably adopted by the Lepidopterist, is found
of much use to the collector of beetles. And this
is very much to be regretted ; because, in the
majority of cases, if the latter succeed in rearing
a beetle from its earliest stage, and keep proper
notes of its appearance and habits, he will probably
be adding to the general stock of knowledge, as the
lives of comparatively few, even of the commonest
species, are recorded from the beginning. It may
be, also, in addition to the reasons above mentioned
for the usual want of success attending the rearing
of beetle larvse, that the fact of bred specimens
being frequently (from the artificial conditions
attending their development, and from their not
being allowed that length of time which, in a state
of nature, they require after their final change
before they are ready to take an active part in their
No. 91.

last stage of life), not nearly so good as those taken
at large, militates considerably against the more
general use of this method of adding to a collection.
In this respect, of course, the Lepidopterist is
actuated by precisely opposite motives ; as for him
a bred specimen is immeasurably superior to one
captured. And the fact of so few beetle larvae being
known at all, or, if known, only to the possessor of
somewhat rare books, renders it very likely that a
mere collector, finding a considerable expenditure
of patience and trouble result in the rearing of a
species of which he could at any time readily pro-
cure any number of specimens, may very probably
abandon rearing for the future.

These observations, however, are not in the least
intended to dissuade any one from breeding or en-
deavouring to breed beetles. On the contrary, it is
obvious from them that it is precisely by attending
to these earlier stages that the earnest student
(novice or expert) has the most chance of dis-
tinguishing himself, on account of the more open
field for discovery. And in the instance of many
small, and especially gregarious, beetles, breeding
from the larvae is frequently very easy, if only the
substances (fungus, rotten wood, roots, stems of
plants, &c.) containing them be carefully left iu
precisely the same state as when found, and be ex.
posed to the same atmospheric or other important
conditions. In fact, to insure success and good
specimens, it is best that in their early stages beetles
should be "let alone severely."

It may be here observed, that we have been lately
in this country indebted to the minute observations
and great tact of some of our best students of
Micro-Lepidoptera (in which branch of entomology
we are second to none in Europe), for some most
interesting additions to our knowledge of habits,
and for long series of insects usually rare in col-
lections.

Dismissing then the earlier stages of beetles, the
following observations will apply only to the imago,

H

146

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE-GO S SIP.

or " beetle proper." And here I would repeat bow
evident it is, that tlie knowledge of " the reason
why" is especially indispensable to the beetle-col-
lector, judging from the extreme rarity of the occur-
rence of any new or valuable insect in the stores of
a mere random collector or a beginner. For him, no
old hand detects an equivalent to DapUdice or
Lathonia in his 'duplicate boxes : whereas, among
Lepidopterists, " school-boy's luck " is proverbial.
I can give no reason for this statement, founded on
my own (by no means trilling) experience in the way
of examining specimens. And in this idea I think
I am corroborated by the very great rarity in old
collections and records of many species now uni-
versally common ; the directions in older manuals,
as to looking under stones, on walls, paths, &c.,
pretty clearly showing that the majority of captures
in the olden time were what are now irreverently
designated as " flukes." Still, it is astonishing to
■what good account a sharp observer may turn these
casual meetings, often to him resulting in the dis-
covery of "the reason why" as to the particular
species accidentally found, and to the correlative
increase of his collection. And, apart from any-
thing but individual captures, many good (and more
bad) things will constantly occur to such a collector.
One, for instance, who will startle his friends in the
streets, by suddenly swooping with his hat after an
atom flying in the sunshine, or who is not too
proud to pick up another, racing on the hot pave-
ment, during those days of early spring, when the
insect myriads, revelling in warmth and light, after
their long winter's durance, may be seen madly
dashing about, even iu towns : on such a day, for
instance, as that whereon a certain well-known
doctor among the beetles found that living cara-
bideous gem Anchomenus sexpundatus, far from its
native Sphagnum and heath, wandering on the flag-
stones of the W.C. district.

But, before referring to special modes of hunting,
it may be as well to mention the insirumenta belli
required for the equipment of the Colcopterist in
this country. These are but few, and of the simplest
kind; indeed, in entomology, as in the gentle art of
angling, it is often the most roughly accoutred that
secures the best basket. The umbrella-net, figured
at p. 122, used both for beating into and sweeping^
cannot be dispensed with, and a beating-stick can
be cut out of the nearest hedge. The net itself should
be of fine "cheese-cloth," or some strong fabric that
allows the passage of air, but not of beetles ; other-
wise, if of too close a fibre, it is apt to " bag " with
the inclosed air, and reject its contents during the
operation of sweeping. The net being of course
used with the right hand, its left top edge especially
bears the brunt of the attendant friction, and gets
soon worn ; it is consequently advisable to have an
outer strip of stout "leather-cloth" sewn strongly
over the riai there for some little distance, extend-

ing that protection also to the right top edge, though
not for so long a space. The curved handle of the
stick should be" sawn off as soon as possible ; it
frequently catches in the pockets of the sweeper,
causing a jerk to the net, and dispersal of its con-
tents. Eor a similar reason, the feruled apex may
be well removed. Some collectors keep the sharp
cutting edge of the spring sides of the net uncovered,
sewing the net itself to holes drilled at intervals on
the lower side of the springs. It will be found handy
if the bag of the net be cut to a point from the front
towards the handle side : this causes the contents
to gravitate to the bottom, as far as possible from
the point where the rim meets the substance swept.

A common umbrella (easily slung by a stout
string over the back when not in use) is an admir-
able (some think, superior) substitute for this net,
as it can be held up higher by the ferule, and tall
bushes and trees (of which the branches nearer the
top are usually most productive) can be beaten into
it with more certainty of their beetle-contents being
caught. The steel frames will be found in the way
when the beetles are being bottled; consequently, a
good large gingham may be consecrated to collect-
ing, and its inside (not the open ribs) covered all
over up to the middle (leaving no aperture there if
possible) with thin white calico, stitched over the
frame.

Another good form of net for sweeping or
dragging in long grass and herbage, is of the
common fishing landing-net description, made of
very stout wrought-iron or steel wire, either in a
simple hoop, if a moderate size only be required, or
with a single-stopped hinge to fold into two, or
with three such hinges, folding into four, as maybe
desired. 1 have used one of these four-folding nets
for years, and never found it fail. One end is ham-
mered out flat and perforated, the other forming a
male screw, bent at right angles with the body of
the frame, passes through the hole, and fits into
a female screw in a strong and long ferule, fixed iu
the usual way to the end of a stout oaken walking-
stick. As the power exerted in sweeping with
such a net is great, and the action continuous, the
simple screw is not enough, and a small screw-hole
is drilled right through the ferule and the screw
end of the net ; a small thumb-screw, in shape like
an old-fashioned clock key, going transversely
through both, and effectually hindering lateral
displacement. The framework of the net and
the ferule are better made of the same metal,
because, if made of two metals of different density,
the stronger soon wears away the weaker; [and the
stick must be inserted deeply into the ferule, and
held on with two deep pins or small screws on
opposite sides, one being insufficient to stand the
strain. The net, of the same substance as that
above mentioned, is made with a loose "hem" to
slip on the frame b6fore screwing it in the ferule.

HAEDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

147

A leather-cloth edging all round is advisable, and
the bag should be cut long enough to prevent the
possibility of the contents jerking out. Another
very good plan for securing the frame to the ferule
is to have both ends of it soldered together into a
deep square-sided plug, fitting into a corresponding
hole in the ferule. The small cross-screw or pin is
here also to be used, but the angles of the plug
naturally keep a much tighter hold than the worm
of a screw. Such a frame as this cannot, of course,
be folded.

f For water-beetles, a similar net to that last-
mentioned is effective, but it should be stouter and
with a flat front, for dredging closely against the
sides and bottoms of ponds. The best substance
for its bag is fine sampler canvass ; and a very large
stout bamboo cane is at once light and strong for
its stick. To avoid friction, the bag may be affixed
to small wire rings let^into holes on the lower edge
of the frame, or running on the frame itself.

A sieve is one of the most remunerative imple-
ments, and may be procured either simple or fold-
ing. It consists of a stout wire- framed circle, con-
nected by a strong linen baud, six inches deep,
with the bottom of an ordinary wire sieve, the
meshes of which are wide enough to allow any
beetle to pass through. Leaves, grass, flood-refuse,
ants' nests' materials, cut-grass, sea-weed, haystack
and other debris, are roughly shaken in this over a
sheet of brown paper, which should invariably form
part of a Coleopterist's apparatus. A stout piece
of double water-proof material may be substituted ;
and, in marsh-collecting, must be used as a kneel-
ing-pad.

For ordinary bark-collecting, a strong ripping-
chisel (of which the blade is well collared, so as not
to slip) is as useful a tool as can be i)rocured; but
for real tree-working, no ordinary portable imple-
ment is thoroughly effective. Light steel hammers
witiialever spike may delude the collector; but a
woodman's axe, a saw, a pickaxe or crowbar, will
often be found not too strong. For cutting tufts,
fee, a strong garden pruning-knife is good, and an
old fixed-handled dinner-knife (carried in a sheath)
better.

For holding the results of the operation of these
instruments, the collector needs but one or two
collecting-bottles, — one rather small and circular, of
as clear and strong glass {not cast) as can be got,
with a wide mouth and flat bottom. Its neck should
not slope, but be of even width, or the cork will
often get out of itself. This cork should be a deep
one, and be perforated longitudinally by a stout
and large round quill, the bottom of which should
be level with the bottom of the cork, the top pro-
jecting some inch and a half, with the upper orifice
not cut off straight, but slightly sloped diagonally,
so as more easily to scoop up beetles from the net
or hand. It is closed with an accuratehj-fiUincj, soft,

wooden plug, rather longer than the quill, reaching
exactly to the bottom of it, but with its top pro-
jecting above the top of the quill, and broader than
it, so as to be easily pulled out by the teeth when
the hands are occupied. Tlie bottle should be
secured by stout twine to the buttonhole, enough
play being left for it to reach the net in any ordinary
position. I usually secure the external junction of
quill and cork with red sealing-wax, and have more
than once found the bright red catch my eye when
I have lost my bottle. [N.B. This loss will always
happen to every collector ; generally after a peculiarly
lucky day's work : so use the string-preventive.]
The body of the bottle may usefully be half-covered
with white paper gummed on. A few stout, plain
glass tubes, papered in like way, and with plain
corks, should be carried for special captures ; and a
cyanide-bottle, as mentioned at p. 121,* or one con-
taining bruised and shredded young laurel-shoots,
will be found useful for safely bringing home larger
species, or such as would devour their fellow-
captives. Put in these latter, beetles almost instantly
die and become rigid, needing a stay of two days
or so to become relaxed, in which condition they
will then safely remain for a considerable period.
In the first collecting- bottle a piece of muslin should
be put, to give the contents foothold : these are
brought home alive, and killed by bodily immersion
in boiling water, after which they are placed on
blotting-paper to drain off superfluous moisture.

Good things should always, when practicable, be
set out at once, as the pubescence is apt to get
matted if they are consigned for too long a period
to the laurel- or cyanide-bottle ; but such as remain
unmounted can be put in a little muslin bag, and
deposited in laurel until a more convenient oppor-
tunity. Beetles also, when taken in large numbers
durinj an expedition into a productive locality, ma.y
be collected indiscriminately into a bottle containing
sawdust (sifted to get rid both of large pieces and
actual dust), and a small piece of cyanide of potas-
sium. Each night, on reaching home, these will be
found to be dead, and they can then be transferred
to a larger bottle or air-tight tin can, partially filled
with the same materials and a little carbolic acid to
check undue moisture. Filled up with sawdust,
this will travel in safety for any distance, and almost
any time.

Species of moderate size, say up to that of an
ordinary Harpalus, are in this country usually
mounted on card. Much is to be said both for and
against tuis ijractice ; it enables the proportions
and formation of limbs to be well appreciated, and
it preserves the specimens securely"; but there can
be no doubt that it prevents an inspection of the

* " Killing-bottles," containing a layer of cyanide of
potassium and gypsum, may be bought at most natural-
history apparatus dealers, and are useful as relaxing depots.

H 2

148

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

under side, except at tlie trouble of extra manipula-
tion in floating off and reversing, and that the gum
used clogs the smaller portions of the insect that
come in contact with it. Specimens larger than
those mentioned should be pinned through the
centre of the upper third of the right wing-case, and
the limbs extended in position with pins on a setting-
board, made of a flat strip of cork glued on deal.
Both these and the mounted examples must be left
to dry, for a week at least, in the open air; if the
boards are fitted to a frame, let them be so placed
that the specimens are bottom upwards. Specimens
'dry more rapidly in spring and summer tliau at any
-other lime, and of course more readily in dry
-\Teathcr.

Tor mounting specimens, five or six small pieces
of the finest and most transparent gum tragacantli,
or " gum dragon," with the same number of pieces
of clear gum arabic, are to be put in a wide-mouthed
bottle with about a large wine-glassful of cold
water. In a short time (twenty-four hours at most)
the gum absorbs the fluid and swells; then add
half as much more water, and stir the mixture, wliich,
on being left for another twenty-four hours at most,
will be ready for use. The gum should be dull white,
of even texture, and not quite fluid. Never make a
Jarge quantity at one time, or be persuaded to put
amjtldng else into it. Card for mounting should be
the whitest, smoothest, and best that can be pro-
cured. " Four-sheet Bristol board " for large spe-
cimens, and three-sheet for ordinary use, are about
the proper degrees of thickness. Robersons, of
Long Acre, artists' colourmeu, have promised the
writer to turn out cardboard of this kind with an
extra milling, to insure a good surface. Upon strips
of this card, pinned on a setting-board, the insects
to be set out are mounted, one at a time, and not
too close to each other, each on a separate " dab "
of the gum, the limbs being duly set out with a fine
pin or needle mounted in a paint-brush stick. A pin
with the point very finely turned, so as to form a
minute hook, is very useful; and for extremely
minute work a " bead-needle " is valuable. The
gum-brush should not be used in setting, but one
or two very fine-pointed camel's-hair brushes may
be found of advantage. Before mounting, reverse
the specimen on the blotting-paper, and brush out
its limbs as far as practicable M'ith a damp flat
brush. Very refractory individuals may require to
be gummed on their backs ; as soon as the gum is
dry, their limbs can be more easily got into position,
and they can then be gently damped off their tem-
porary mount, and treated as above.

A small pair of brass microscope-forceps, ground
or cut to a minute point, will often materially assist
in getting refractory limbs into position. Erench
white liquid glue (not made of shell-lac) is useful
for fastening down larger specimens, as it is very
strong and dries readily; and with a very small

quantity of it rows of specimens can quickly and
securely be rouglily mounted, in the continental way^
which is preferable in many cases to leaving the
insects for a long time in laurel before setting them
out. Such specimens can afterwards, if desired, be
relaxed by leaving them on damp sand, or in the
cyanide- or laurel-bottle, and be then set in the way
above indicated.

Care must be' taken, in setting, not to put the
specimen lop-sided on the card, or to distort its
segments unnaturally by pulling them out of posi-
tion, &c., and not to allow gum to lodge anywhere
on the upper surface. It is easy, soon after a spe-
cimen is securely mounted, to remove with clean
M'ater and brush any superfluous gum. In preparing
such insects as are liable to " run up " in drying
[e.g. the StapliyVmidce), the abdomen should be duly
pulled out by a bead-needle inserted at its apex;
and, to prevent the contraction of the internal mus-
cles in drying, this part may be held with the
liquid glue above mentioned. Usually, by putting
these insects as soon as mounted into a box and
keeping it closed for a few hours, while the first
drying takes place, the proper dimensions of the
abdomen may be preserved, and thus the natural
facies of the insect retained. The contents of the
bodies of very large insects may well be removed,
either by the anal orifice, or by an incision on the
lower side of the abdomen. The Oil-beetles {Meloe)
alone require careful stuffing. This is best done by
separating the entire abdomen from the metathorax,
beneath the elytra, and close to their point of inser-
tion : the body is then easily emptied and washed
out, and may be filled with cut-up wool, which
packs closely : when gummed on again, the junc-
tion is not visible, and the entire insect preserves
its M'onderfuUy obese appearance.

To save time, in mounting many specimens, it is
better to merely gum straight on the strip of card
as many specimens as can be managed at a sitting.
The left side of each of these can then be slightly
damped with cletir cold water, 'and its left limbs set
out : when all are thus done, the first one will be
nearly, if not quite, ready to have its right side
treated in like manner ; and so on to the end. Very
refractory specimens will sometimes require to be
even held down with little braces of card on pins,
and to have each liuib damped and set out by a
separate operation. The card of large specimens
will often curl upwards in drying, owing to the
amount of damp ; to counteract this, the loicer face
of the card may be washed with a wet brush, just
before gumming its surface.

Before putting insects away, when dry, the indi-
vidual specimens should be cut off the strips of card
by a straight cut ou each side, one at right angles
to the sides in front, and another behind, all (ex-
cept the last) close to the tips of the limbs as set
out, so that the whole card forms a parallelogram :

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. '

149

a very little practice will enable the operator to do
this both certainly and quickly. No two individuals,
save perhaps a male and female, of whose sexual
relations there can be no doubt, or an example
mounted on its back, to show its underside, along
with a member of the same species, should be
allowed to continue on one card ; much less should
a TOio of any species be left together. And each
specimen should have sufficient card left behind it
to allow of a glass of high power being passed be-
tween it everywhere and its pin. The pin should
perforate the card in the middle of, and close to, its
liiuder margin ; and the whole card be lifted three-
fourths up the pin, to keep it from mites and dirt
as much as possible. Proper entomological pins can
be obtained of all sizes at the agents of Edelsten,
17, Silver Street, St. Martin's-le-Grand, also (with
all other apparatus) of any natural-history agent or
dealer in London ; such as Mr. E. W. Janson, 28,
Museum Street, or Cooke, New Oxford Street.
" No. 8 " pin is, perhaps, the most useful size. In
removing many specimens, proper insect-forceps will
be found handy : these can be obtained at the two
last addresses, or of 15uck, cutler, Tottenham Court
Hoad.

Specimens will occasionally become discoloured
with grease, usually from defective drying, though
many water-beetles and internal feeders, and most
autumn-caught specimens, are specially liable to this
defect. Benzine is an effectual remedy for it,
and for mites, and can be liberally applied with a
brush. Carbolic or pheenic acid, dissolved in that
fluid (or alone, see p. 126), is "an effectual safeguard
against mould from damp. To re-card a specimen
that has become discoloured (whether from either of
these causes, or from age), it is only necessary that
it should be floated in cold water for a few minutes ;
the insect can then be dried, well saturated with
benzine, and again mounted, looking as fresh as
ever. But in re-carding specimens it is necessary
to be very careful with such as were originally kept
too long in laurel- or cyanide-bottle, as they are apt
to become so rotten that a little damp will cause a
"solution of continuity."

As to storing the specimens when quite dry, I can
add nothing to the excellent observations of Dr.
Knaggs at p. 126, the same remarks applying with
equal force to Colcoptera; except, perhaps, that, even
when the collector has (and is satisfied with) a cabi-
net, he is likely, in proportion to the real work done
by him, to establish type-boxes of all the difficult
groups.

Eor the examination of insects, readily manipu-
lated by being pinned singly on a square flat thick
piece of cork or bung, a pocket glass is, of course,
necessary. In this case, the best instrument is the
cheapest in the long run, whatever it cost ; and one
by a good maker, such as Eoss, with modifications
of four powers, will suffice for any ordinary work.

Eor very small species, a Coddington, of the clearest
definition and highest power attainable, is of im-
mense help. But when the collector finds that he
needs a compound microscope to separate species,
it is the firm opinion of the present writer that that
collector had better take to some other pursuit than
studying Colcoptera. To any one, however, whose
researches entail an examination of the minute
cibarian and other organs of beetles, whether for
purposes of classification or otherwise, the com-
pound is absolutely necessary ; though even then
the lower powers are usually sufficient. Eor rough
dissection, all that is needed are a very small ocu-
list's lance-headed dissecting-knife and a stout and
fine needle. With these, under a lens mounted on
a little stage to allow the free use of both hands,
much may be done. The writer, however, has seen
and used a very pretty (and comparatively inexpen-
sive) dissectiug-staud, with various powers and
much latitude of motion, by Ross.

After mentioning that, in sending mounted beetles
by post to correspondents, it is far more practical
to use a strong box, not too deep, to fasten the pins
securely, with a layer of manufactured wool in the
lid (glazed side towards the beetles, so as not to
catch limbs), and to put more wool outside, and
write the address and affix the stamp on a label at-
tached, than it is to pack carelessly, write " with
care " outside,* and then grumble at the Post-office
because the insects are broken, I think I cannot,
with use, say anything more upon beetles in their
preserved condition ; and I will therefore now give
some hints as to their haunts when alive.

To exhaust the accidental-capture system above
alluded to, mention must first be made of sand-pit
collecting, a most profitable employment, especially
in spring and early summer. A clean, straight-
sided silver-sand pit is the best, and, if in or near
a wood, its attractions will be at their highest.
Beetles, flying of an evening and by night, dash
against the pit sides and fall to the bottom ; others
merely crawl in for shelter, or tumble over the sides,
and many seem attracted by the mere damp at the
bottom or in the corners. Old collectors used to
recommend a sheet spread out to attract insects ;
and there is no doubt that a certain number can be
found by such means, just as they can be picked up
floating on horse-troughs or on ponds. Artificial
traps exist in the corridors of the Crystal Palace,
some half-inclosed country railway stations, and
such places; crawling up the windows of which
many specimens are to be found. But these can
only be considered as indications of what species
occur in the district, as they are mere stragglers.
Deliberately laying traps in sand-pits, on commons.

* It is, however, always as well to write " Insects," signi-
fying contents that are " caviare to the mUlion," and, there-
fore, not likely to be appropriated en route.

160

HARDWiCKE'S SCIENCE- GOSSIP.

&C.J will be foimd most productive : small dead
animals, fir-brauclies, dead leaves, &c., can be
examined time after time with profit in such situ-
ations.

After heavy floods, as during severe droughts,
beetles may be found in great profusion ; in the
former case by sifting the refuse left by the water;
in the latter by diligently examining the damp
residuum of former ponds, and, if no damp be found,
])y even searching below the surface where it last
occurred.

The wet hay, often decayed and mouldy, at the
bottoms of stacks, which bad farmers have placed
directly on the ground, will be found to teem with
beetle-life ; as will the margins of dung and
vegetable-refuse heaps, wood-stacks, cut grass, &c. ;
and many good things may be taken by gently
waving a light gauze net to and fro, just before sun-
set, close to such places, whither the instinct of
nature impels the flight of myriads.

In winter, isolated tufts of grass in wet places,
on the margins of streams, the crests of banks, &c.,
must be cut close to the ground, and gently torn in
pieces over brown paper. Wherever many insects
seem to be found, it will in most of these cases be
found advisable to sift the fragments, and bring
home the beetles and small stuff unexamined in a
bag with a string at the neck to prevent their
escape. Moss should be treated in this way, and
the layers of black and rotting leaves found in
woods, especially at their outskirts. Beech leaves
usually produce many species, and the autumn and
spring are the best times for hunting for them.

In winter, also, many species will be found
hybernatiug in grass at the roots of trees, under
bark, &c., in conditions not usual with them at
other times.

In autumn, fungi, in woods especially, will be
found most productive.

rJ General sweeping, except during the winter, will
always be more or less remunerative. No general
rules can be laid down for this ; in a good neigh-
bourhood (on chalk or sand, or both joined) beetles
will swarm almost anywhere in due season, and the
most unlikely-lookiug spots will frequently be found
the best in the end. In luxuriant herbage, among
low shrubs, in the close-growing vegetation of hill-
sides, the sweeping-net may be plied with success ;
but the best way, with all Plnjfophaga at least, is to
start with a fixed idea as to catching certain definite
species, and then, at the right time, to hunt for such
plants as these are known or supposed to frequent ;
and, such failing in the district, to try their allies.
Of course, the collector will not fail to sweep
flowers in woods and lanes, whereon, in the hot sun-
shine, many showy beetles bask. Many good things
will be found by sweeping under fir-trees, especially
towards evening, and even by night; in many
places, especially marshes, nocturnal feeders may

be secured by the vague use of this net. By night
also many species may be found at sugar put ou
trees for moths, and on ivy or sallow-blossom.

Beating is most productive in early summer,
especially in the second year's growth of young
cuttings in woods, and the Oak, Hazel, and Poplar
will generally yield many species to the tap of the
Slick. Good thick, and especially old hedges, must
also be always carefully thrashed into the net ;
very many good things, otherwise not procurable,
will reward this toil. Another scheme for getting
rare species is to beat the tops of trees with a
long pole, placing beneath a sheet or teut-
covering.

Breaking away the extreme edges of banks,
throwing water on them, treading heavily on the
margins, diligently examining grass and roots close
to the M'ater, reeds (especially if cut and on the
ground in heaps), &c., will bring to light great
numbers of wet-looking beetles. Water-beetles, pure
and simple, must be dragged and dredged for,
especially round water-plants beneath the surface,
and along the sides of ponds, in eddies of running
streams, in the moss on stones in them, and on the
stones themselves, &c.

The Coprophaga will be found readily in the
droppings of various Mammalia, and also in holes
bored in the ground beneath, often to a great depth.
An easy and clean way to secure them is to throw
droppings, ground and all, into water, the beetles
coming to the surface.

As to wood-beetles, they must be sought for
under and in bark, in solid wood, in decaying
branches, and such places ; a rule to be remembered
is that most of these occur at the tops of trees :.
hence the paucity of so many species in collections.
Indeed, to properly hunt for the majority of them,
it is necessary to obtain carle blanche and a ladder^
if any success be hoped for. Pelled trunks are, of
course, easy to manipulate ; and their freshly -TJut
stumps, exuding either resin or a peculiar and
often sweet mv.cor, are very attractive to many
beetles, as is freshly-cut sawdust, and, most espe-
cially, the (to us) fetid and acrid juice resulting
from the attacks of the larva of the Goat-moth.
Rotten fruit, &c., is also not to be passed by with-
out examination. Many small species occur in, or
can be reared from, the topmost twigs of trees blown
down by the wind.

Dead animals, as before mentioned, must be ex-
amined, as must the vegetation and soil near them.
A keeper's tree in a wood will always produce
something for the collector, who need only hold his
net beneath the gibbeted fera and bang their hides
and bones with his beating-stick. During different
stages of decomposition and desiccation, beetles of
widely varied aflinitics will result from this method
of collecting.

Ants' nests would require a special notice, so pro-

HAUDWICKE'S SCIEN CE-GOSSIP.

151

ductive are they : their material can be sifted and
their neighbouring "runs" or pallis examined,
traps laid near or on tliem, and periodically cleared
out, &c. Bees' and wasps' nests also produce good,
though fewer species, and are, moreover, not quite so
easy of access. The nests of birds, especially if the
latter are gregarious, and, indeed, the habitations
of any animals, will be found to harbour many
beetles, amongst other insects.

In gardens, the beetle-collector should lay cun-
ning traps of cut grass, twigs, planks, bones, &c. ;
by a periodical examination of which he will secure
many good things. If there be a hothouse about
the premises, it and its belongings will always act
as a bait.

Large tracts of waste land and commons, though
superficially apparently unproductive, often contain
congregations of good species, in some little oasis
of damp or vegetation ; moreover, on them several
peculiar beetles occur. Hills and mountains will
often suddenly repay tbe toil of the collector, who
has despondently worked his way up, turning over
stones, and finding comparatively nothing. The
moss, &c., attending the channels of any streams in
such places should be carefully searched, and the
stones on the top especially not neglected. River
banks and salt marshes are invariably frequented by
good insects, and the very heaps of seaweed, dry or
wet, on the shore harbour countless beetles. In
sucb places small sand-loving plants should be
pulled up by the roots, and, with the neighbouring
soil, shaken over brown paper. The sand itself
may in many instances be scraped, and buri'owing
beetles brought to light ;■;' but if the hunter comes
upon a dead fish or bird, a full bottle will be his.

Thus it will be seen that almost every locality
contains beetles, if the collector can only detect
them (and it may be as well here to impress on him
that it is better to bottle a dubious insect and ex-
amine it at home, than to reject it for being appa-
rently common). Still there can be no doubt that
certain soils and districts are much more productive
than others; for instance, most of the midland and
western counties, and some of the south-western,
are not by any means so pi-olific as the eastern,
southern, and many parts of the northern districts
of Great Britain ; clay being the worst of all soils
for the Coleopterist.

The collector will do well, after a first hurried
"burst" at all beetles that come in his way, to
select a special group, and lay himself to work it
carefully, buying or borrowing the works of autho-
rities upon it, and making himself master of the
botany connected wi^i it, if it be a group of plant-
frequentiug habits. By such a way of working, he
will more quickly, though step by step, acquire a
good collection, and a stock of useful knowledge,
Thau by any other. He will of course keep a regis-
ter of the date and place of capture, and any pecu-

liarity of habit of each insect he takes. Figures of
the date of the year (usually the last two are sufli-
cient), followed by -another set, commencing with 1,
will usually be quite enough ; corresponding entries
being made in the first column of a ruled diary.
These figures may be written ir ink on the under-
side of the card of a mounted specimen, or on a
circular disc of paper, pierced by the pin of one too
large to be carded.

THE pirate:

{Aphrodederus sayanus, Cuv.)

By Chakles C. Abbott, M.D.

/^VER and under the pebbles and roots, through
^^ grassy hill-top meadow, and dashing down a
dozen feet of sober-sided rocks, sports, with never-
ceasing cheerfulness, that glorious streana Belle
Brook , laughiug a sweet rippling laugh at the cen-
tury-old hemlocks that lean their towering trunks
over and far above it, and then, in a quiet nook,
kissing their feet as if to atone for its presumption,
and off to."i.fresh woods and pastures new," rushing
in hot haste over scores of opposing boulders, and
then, worn by the wild play with ten miles of
mountains, languidly seeking a rest in the bosom of
the Delaware.

In a wondrously crooked arm of this Belle Brook,
I captured the savage customer here figured, as he
is figured. I had always considered this "arm"
the most interesting stream of its size, in an ichthy-
ological view, I had ever visited ; for, from trout,
the pisciau prince, to lampreys, the fag-end of
findom, there is everything that the waters of the
whole county can boast. Now, I am sure, this
" arm " must take the lead.

In Science-Gossip for February of the present
year, I briefly referred to capturing this peculiar
fish at odd times, with a hook and line ; but verily !
I never imagined that an adult "pirate" could be
taken in such a plight as this one is; although
swallowing smaller fish is no unusual practice with
them. I had been taking some small cyprinoids
and a few large etheostomoids for specimens, when
suddenly down went the little cork far out of siglit,
and the little ash whip, that 1 used as a pole, bent
nearly double with the strain upon it. I supposed
a small pike or large sun-fish had seized the hook,
or a pestiferous spotted turtle, which seems to
delight in exciting the ire of the best-natured
anglers ; and I was not a little astonished when
this fine pirate, with a full-grown hybopsis sticking
from his mouth, made his appearance. He bad
contrived somehow to suck in the hook at the angle
of the jaws, and then put off wath it, determining,
I suppose, to season his fish diet with warm sauce.
Yv''el], I landed him, took his picture just as he ap-
peared, and here it is ! Never had a fish a more

152

HARDWICKE'S SC I E NCE -G O SSIP.

angry look than he. And liis looks only reflected
his feelings ; for had his jaws not been fixed by the
minnow that projected from them, he certainly
would have bitten me. Carelessly handling them
in the bottom of a sccop net, they have more than
once seized my finger, and held ou like grim death.
We well remember seeing one once w'ith a firm
hold upon a lamprey {Petromyzon), and in spite of
all the latter's exertions and vehement rubbing
against stones and the exposed roots of the over-
hanging trees, the Pirate held on, apparently

the projecting portion of the sMallowed minnow, he
was brought nose to nose with his fellow, and there
they remained the greater part of a day.

In May (in New Jersey) the young fish make
their appearance, and are a favourite food of the
adult fish, which will account for the fact of the
species not being as abundant as the many cypri-
uoids we have, known as "Roach," "Chub,"
'' Dace," and " Shiners."

The "Pirate" is found in' the majority of the
streams along our seaboard, from New York to

Fig. 103. The Pirate-fish (Aphrodedenis sayanus).

forcing its teeth deeper and deeper into the lam-
prey's flesh, judging by the movements of his head
and jaws. Presently he loosed his hold very sud-
denly, and was gone like a flash; and the cause
proved to be that a new enemy, in the shape of a
cat-fish {Amiurus), had intruded upon his favourite
haunt, the tangled roots of a water-birch that stood
upon the very edge of the stream.

If undisturbed, the " Pirate " will remain, during
the day, among these roots, gently moving to and
fro a distance of about one-fourth his length, pro-
pelling and receding by a scarcely discernible move-
ment of his pectoral fins. On the approach of
evening, however, a disposition to move about shows
itself, and slowly, without apparent object, he
wanders here and there, until he finds one or more
minnows near him, when his whole manner changes,
and, all activity, he chases these little fish until an
opportunity presents itself, when, with a rapidity of
movement equal to that of a pike, he rushes upon
his victim and swallows it, almost invariably head-
foremost. As is frequently the case, the swallowed
fish is too large for the throat of the swallower, and
in that case, he resumes his favourite position, and
there remains until the fish has been digested, or he
has been enabled to wear away with his teeth
the projecting portion of ,the swallowed fish. This
habit is easily demonstrated by confining the
"Pirate" in an aquarium, where we ohce saw a
still stranger sight, as but one minnow was allowed
to two " Pirates," and the smaller having seized

Louisiana, a long stretch of land, and one that in-
cludes three or four distinct ichthyic faunas, this
being one of the few species that is common to
them all.

Trenton, New Jersey. U. S. A.

THE CHARLOCK.
By Major Holland, R.M.L.I.

IN Sowerby's English Botany there are coloured
plates and full descriptions of three distinct
plants, each popularly or provincially known as
Charlock. All three belong to the order Crucifera ;
two are species of the genus Raphanus, and the
third is a species of the genus Brassica. It is about
the latter — the Charlock, or Corn Mustard —
Brassica Sinapistnim— that I am about to gossip.
The Erencli call it Moutarde des champs, an apt
designation, which at once distinguishes and
identifies it, denotes its generic or specific aifinities,
and tells us of its habitat ; the German name Ber
Acker Senf has precisely the same signiGcation as
the French.

" It is a troublesome weed oifarable land through-
out England, but is capable of being used when
boiled as a pot-herb, and is so employed in Sweden
and Ireland. It is much relished by cattle, and
especially by sheep, but is nowhere cultivated as
fodder. The seeds form a good substitute for

llARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

153

mustard, and have been used as food for birds ; but,
being pungent, are not desirable lor them."
■ 1 remember what a pest it used to be (and I haA'e
no doubt is still) on the poor, thin, chalky soils of
the Sussex downs ; it flourishes on the sandy clays
of the Bracklesham Beds here on the scacoast of
South Hants, where its bright yellow corymbs give
a^ golden glow to many a broad acre of the late-
sown barley ; and it has got such a hold upon the
stiff rich lias, the oolites, and marls of fair, fat,
and fertile Gloucester, that the muse of Severn-dale
seized upon it as a theme for a rural lay, and the
sturdy joskins make the welkin ring, and startle the
echoes of the Cotteswolds with the rustic strains
of

"A GLOSTERZHUR ZONG ON THE KERLOCK."*

" The Kerlock plant 's a zite to zee,

As a zhiiies in the yields like gowld ;
But all yent gowld as glitters vree,
I wur' once by my veather towld.

" Zo I'll teVe a heow f an' cut un al! up.
All out o' tha' Barley ground ;
An' arter that I'd like to kneow
Whur' a bit o'nast t can be vound?

" But a zays, zays he, as 't 'yunt no use
Vor to gwoo to a girt expense;
Vor t'wuU come ageun, whatever thee doos,
lu a yur or two vrom yence.

" But Pa'sson zays as every weed,

lake the Turtnuts and Whaet we seows,
Mus' all come up vrom a zort o' zeed,
Zo I wun't let 'un zecd if I kneows :

" But I'll tcke a hcow an' heow 'un all clane,
Right out o' the Barley ground ;
Vor if I doant let 'un zeed, 'tis plane
Nat a bit o' nast can be vound."

While the above-mentioned plant is of the Mustard
tribe, the other two, known by the same common
English appellation, arc of the Radish race. The first
oi i\ies,e, Eaphanus RapJianistrum — the wild Char-
lock, wild Radish, white or jointed Charlock— the
Radis sauvage of the Ereneh, and Der Acker Uettkj
of the Germans — is said to be the vagrant and de-
generate offspring of the cultured originals brought
to our shores by the conquering legions of Caisar:
others declare that the radish was first introduced
into this country from China only about 250 years
ago. Radishes certainly attain to great size and
perfection in " the laud of Sinim." I have grown
an egg-shaped variety, with a bright pink skin and
very white flesh, in a garden I once had on the banks

* From the Proceedings of the Cotteswold Club.

t Anglic^, Hoe. The root is the Saxon Heawan, to cut.

+ Ndst, a generic term for dirt, applied more particularly
to weeds. Picking nast, or burning nast, will mean picking
couch, burning weeds, &c. The root of this word, though
difiacult to trace, is not entirely lost. Its primary meaning is
that of fllth or dirt ; a sense preserved in the adjective nasty.
It has no substantive form in English. The Swedish has
nesa, dishonour, shame; and the Old Norse, neiss, shameful ;
secondary derivatives from the same root.

of the Wong-poo, which reached to an enormous
size, without becoming rank, coarse, or stringy, or
losing their delicacy of flavour ; but I do not see
why we should imagine that our cultivated radishes
came from the far East ; and that even our wild
Raphanus Raphanistrum is but a Roman escaped
from civilization and fallen in savagery; while
Raphanus raaritimus — the Sea-charlock, or Sea-
radish — a comparatively rare species, scantily
inhabiting here and there a cliff or sandy bank on
the coast, is the only true native radish, indigenous
to our British soil. Bcntham is of opinion that
our garden radish, Raphanus sativus, is only a variety
of the wild R. Raphatiistrum.

Mr. Sowerby, in his splendid and unrivalled work,
gives us the history of (as well as the tales and
legends connected with) all our native plants ; and
what pleasure and enjoyment are added to our
rambles over the wild commons, and to our strolls
through the quiet green lanes, by a knowledge of
this quaint plant-lore, which he has so laboriously
and patiently brought together and placed before
us in such attractive shape. He tells us how the
homely radish was a classic root, highly esteemed
in the brave days of old, when simplicity, frugality,
and temperance lent vigour to the life of the stern
conquering race, before wealth and sloth, and luxury
and sensuality had eaten out the iron heart of the
warrior nation :

" A Roman meal.
Such as the mistress of the world once foun*
Delicious, when her patriots of high note.
Perhaps by moonlight, at their humble doors.
And under an old oak's domestic shade,
Enjoy'd, spare feast— a radish and an egg."

Ye gods ! what digestions men must have had in the
days "iiitoiisl Catoiiis" what consciences must the
Fatres conscripti have possessed when, after dining
on raw cow-cabbage and vinegar, they could sup
on turnip-radishes and cold hard-boiled eggs, and
lie down to rest upon their hard beds without fear
of nightmare. Even in much later times, when the
gluttony and self-indulgence, the ostentation and
lavish M-aste of tiie noble and great, had begun to
alarm the higher-minded and more thoughtful citi-
zens, a stomach that could dispose of "three fat
snails {Helix pomutia), two eggs, a barley cake, a
lettuce, sweet wine, and snow " for supper, accord-
ing to the custom of Pliny the younger, must have
been tolerably sound.

I remember reading, many years ago, of a poor
crazy old woman who wandered about the fields in
all weathers, tearing up the Charlock when it began
to bloom. Her son, an idle vagabond, who shunned
all steady regular work, had managed to live by
smuggling and poaching; at last he was tempted
to M'aylay and rob a poor travelling pedlar : he
attacked him one wild stormy night as he was
crossing some fields by a lonely, unfrequented foot-

134

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

path, strikiug the old man down from behind with
a bludgeon; while rifling Lis pockets, the moon
suddenly appeared from behind a black cloud, and
lighted up the robber's features ; the pedlar recog-
nized him, and calling him by name, told him that
the slow but sure hand of justice would overtake
him one day. " You shan't be a witness against
me, at any rate, I'll make sure of you ; dead men
tell no tales : " and the robber became a murderer.
" You shouldn't have talked about the gallows, old
man," said the rufiSan, jeering the dying man ;
" where will the witnesses be when you're buried
deep down, and the waving corn grows over the
place— aha ! who'll be your witnesses then, I won-
der?" "These! these!" moaned the victim,
tearing up a handful of blood-bedabbled weeds
from the trampled earth, and dashing them all wet
and reeking in the murderer's face, — " the wild
Charlocks that see me die, shall nod their yellow
heads at you, and my blood's cry to Heaven for ven-
geance shall be heard, and the yellow blossoms shall
be my witnesses against you as long as the Char-
lock blooms wild in the cornfields." The wretch
trembled as the dank plants struck him, and stained
his face; then he dragged the body away and buried
it deep down in a newly-ploughed field ; and corn
was sown and grew up over it, and all trace of the
horrid deed seemed to be put for ever out of sight.
But the pedlar was missed from his accustomed
beat, and people began to talk and wonder if he had
met with foul play, and they joked the assassin, and
asked him whether the money he spent so freely had
been taken from the missing traveller. The spring
came round, and the weeds sprang up amongst the
green corn ; but in one lone field there came such
a mass of 'yellow charlock-weed in one particular
spot that the farmer noticed it, and sent men to
root it up ; but it sprang up again and again, and
the guilty miscreant quaked when the neighbours
talked about it, and at last he was seen stealing out
at night and tearing the rank weeds up. Suspicion
was aroused, the soil was turned up, and the body
of the missing pedlar was found and identified. The
terror-stricken murderer confessed, and told the
whole tale ; he was hanged, as he vreli deserved to
be; his .poor widowed mother went mad with
grief; but, unable to realize the actual death of her
only child, and with the pedlar's dying cry for ever
ringing in her ears, she wandered in the fields tear-
ing up the Charlock, that its golden blossoms might
not wag their heads and bear witness against her
lost and ruined son.
Bury Cross, Gosport.

" When Alexander the Great went on his Indian
expedition he opened the way fur many discoveries.
The Ringed Parakeet was soon afterwards brought
to Greece."— " JBeauii/2el Birds in Far-off Lands "

SPARROW BRAWLS.

rpHE social habits of our attached friends
-*- the Sparrows, must at this time of year
attract the notice of the most unobserving. Like
other parasites, they are not long out of sight
at any season, but on the approach of spring,
every nook around the homestead rings in turn
with their squabbles, and there is not a city
garden with a shrub in it, which does not re-echo
with their eager reproaches. The noise, considering
the size of the performers, is wonderful. The
greater frequency of these affrays in the spring
months leads to the presumption that they arise
from jealousy amongst the male birds. But this I
believe to be an error. My lot is cast in a large
seaside town, and the chief enjoyment I can get of
the beauties of nature is derived from a few poplar
trees, planted, by necessity, much nearer to my
study-window than a country gentleman would
think desirable. The necessity, however, like most
of the decrees of Providence, is not without ad-
vantage. It brings my feathered friends, in whom
I delight, under much closer observation. Here,
in their season of verdure, the trees are visited by
Chiff-chaffs, Willow-wrens, and two species of Tit-
mouse ; whilst in severe weather strange visitors are
driven down from the hills, such as the Missel-
thrush, the Blackbird, the Song-thrush, arid the
Redwing. Redbreasts, Brown Wrens, Hedge-
sparrows, and House-sparrows are here at all
seasons, and the last fully as]; saucy and cunning as
any of their tribe. For some considerable time I
have been in the habit of watching their conduct,
and whenever the first note of discord has arisen, I
have noted their proceedings with particular
attention. As would be supposed, the actors are
one female and several males. The latter, however,
are not, as would be expected, contending with one
another, but all— excepting one, teasing rather than
seriously attacking the hen, who always occupies
the centre. One of the male birds does nothing
but flounder about in a ridiculous manner, throwing
back his head, drooping his wings, and uttering a
peculiar chirp, which seems to goad the rest of his
sex to frenzy. The female frequently rushes at this
lackadaisical performer, and pecks at him with fury.
He never returns the blow, but retreats a short
distance, whilst one of the males attacks the hen
from behind and diverts her wrath upon himself.
I have never seen the male birds assail one another
at such times. Sometimes their emotion, whatever
its nature, is so vehement, that they are all down
together in inextricable confusion ; but the moment
the paroxysm is over, they always act as I have
described above. It is the cry of the male bird
beginning his singular performance before the
female, which instantly summons all the cock-birds
in the vicinity to the scene. The first comers dash

I

HAKDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

151;

into the melee without a moa^ent's hesitation. The
late arrivals often take no part in the afTair, beyond
cheering on the principals with a few sharp notes-
At length, as in human squabbles, the absurdity
and uselessness of the whole thing seem to strike
every one — the outsiders retire, and the chief actors
begin to draw off : the lover, if such is his character,
performs with less empressement, the lady becomes
hiore indifferent to his " chaff." Agamemnon and
Menelaus go off together Kara (cXto-iae te vias re,
Paris himself steals away by degrees, and Helen is
invariably left quite alone. Such arc the facts, as I
have witnessed them, over and over again, but their
significance is not so easy to determine. It should
be remembered that these birds are not polygamous,
like ruffs and capercailiics, and domestic fowls,
whose desperate combats are intelligible enough.
There is no greater provocation to jealousy amongst
spaiTOws than amongst linnets or buntings, which
are not in the habit of brawling in this manner,
sparrows, indeed, are hardly gregarious in the
breeding season ; each male bird has his own mate,
and the pair bring up their family in as exemplary
a manner as many a Christian couple. Nevertheless,
there is not one of these staid, business-like charac-
ters who is not ready, at a moment's notice, to
engage in a furious set-to with his neighbours about
one of the other sex, for whom he cares nothing a
minute before or after. Moreover, these squabbles
are not confined to the spring season. I have wit-
nessed them in every month in the year, excepting
during the moulting season. I will not hazard any
theory respecting them, content to draw the attention
of your readers to the facts of a very curious, how-
ever common, phenomenon ; the object of which,
like the night-crowing of the roost-cock, or the
serrated claw of the rern-owl, is, I believe, very
little understood, H.

PUPA ene:\iies.

ON May 2nd, I went to my pupa-cage to look
for " fresh arrivals,"and was very much 'asto-
nished to find the pupaj were being carried off bodily
by a number of large red ants. Several had been
partly devoured, and others injured beyond re-
covery; but by a prompt and vigorous attack, the
pupse were rescued and removed, while the ants were
destroyed by a copious douche of boiling water. A
little searching revealed the colony, at about three
yards distant from the breeding-cage. I stirred them
up with a stick, and gave them a dose of the hot
water; a thin stream of ants were travelling along
the wall, having no doubt been informed of the
" grub " by their relatives.

As I keep all my pups oid of doors, and exposed
to the changes of the atmosphere, such dangers
must be risked. I simply place the pupa on the

top of a layer of fine sifted mould, mixed with de-
cayed tan and silver sand : as I never moisten them,
they do not damp off, and I have lost but few frora
dry rot. I once covered them over with moss,
boiled, according to instructions ; but I never saw
any advantage derived from it ; and as you cannot
see how the pupaj are without disturbing it, I have
discontinued using any moss for some time.

There are a great many other plans for rearing
pupai successfully, each of which has its supporters
and followers, who of course believe it to be " in-
fallible."

I have tried several others, and with more or less
success. I should say laying them in bran is per-
haps the worst, as then they invariably dry up ;
cotton wool produced the next smallest percentage
of perfect insects. Another enemy of the moth
in its pupal state is the Earwig {Forficula) ; also
Cocktail or great Hove Beetle {Creopldlus maxiU
losus), and such "Reptiles."

The Rev. Joseph Green, in his valuable little
work on "Pupa-digging," says, "I have known a
slug crawl in a straight course more than a foot up
the side of my cage, to get at a chrysalis, and then
feast on it till there was nothing left but the
empty skin." He also states that he has seen an
earwig eat a soft pupa, and gives an account of las
pupoe being devoured by a brood of Tinea pseudo-
Sjpretellu.

Other enemies of the pupse, more especially when
at large, are Gcldmice, which are fond of soft pupae.
Those who damp their pupae will also suffer losses
from mould, which is very destructive to some
kinds, especially those which have been moved from
the cocoon.

It is curious what clusters larvae will often
form, piling the cocoons one above another, till
some are not visible. I had last summer iu one of
my larger breeding-cages, a group consisting of
5 Drinkers {Odone&tis potatoria), 3 Oak Eggars
{Lasiocampa Quercics), 7 or 8 Lackeys {Bomhyx
Neustrla), 5 Eigure-of-8 (J)ilola caruleocephala),
4i Gipsies {Liparis dispar), and a single Tiger
{Chelonia Cajd). I need scarcely say, I did not
leave them to come out in this position, or many
would no doubt have been undeveloped. I think I
have given a tolerably good list of the various
enemies or diseases to which the pupa2 of Lepi-
doptera are liable ; but if others have been noticed
by subscribers to Science-Gossip, I shall be glad
to see their remarks.

J. Hendekson, Jun.

" England is the sister of Holland, but, being
more enveloped, I think, iu misis, owing to the
vi-arm waters of the Gulf Stream, it did not recog-
nize until a later period the grandeur of its mari-
time horizon."—" Nature," hy Madame Michelet.

15G

HARDWICKE'S SCI ENCE-GUS SI P.

SHUIMPS AND PRAWNS.

IT is astoiiisliing, in vulgar classification, how size
and colour determine conclusions. Its reason-
ing is based on just the opposite grounds to those
of science. The latter investigates, analyses, wants
to know the reason for every organ, rudimentary
or otherwise, and refuses to be satisfied with the
statement that they are complementary. It has too
much faith in the wisdom of the Creator to believe
in sports or freaks of any kind whatever. Every
organ, whether in use or not, has a meaning ; and,
if we could get at it, it would doubtless help us to
the history, not of the individual merely, but of the
species and even genus to which its possessor be-
longs.

Among the common zoological objects with which
the public generally come in contact, perhaps no
greater ignorance is displayed than in their notion g

that when they have arrived at a certain size ihey
separate from the older ones, the latter retiring
farther from the shore to, return again, however,
when they have reached the adult condition. It is
only when they have arrived at the latter stage that
the fishermen condescend to regard them as true
praw//s^a.\'id to charge for them as such !

Tiie tail of the "red shrimp," or prawn, is worthy
of notice. It is composed of five plates, capable
of being folded like a lady's fan. Each plate is
edged with setaj, and when alarmed, by expanding
the tail and suddenly striking the water with it, its
possessor can drive itself backwards to a surprising
distance. It is almost comical to watch this animal
investigating a strange locality^o see how gin-
gerly it seems to walk on the very tips of its long
feet, and how its swimmerets or paddles are mean-
time rapidly working beneath the abdomen. It
progresses by means of these swimmerets exactly
on the principle of a paddle-boat, and uses its tail
only to retreat from danger.

Another common species of prawn is often sold as
a shrimp. This is the Pakemon squilla (fig. 105),
which resembles the true shrimp even more than

Tig, 104. Palitmon serratus.

of "shrimps." The old adage that all is fish which
comes into the net is realized here, for all are
shrimps tiiat are sold as such. The only difTerence
recognizable is that some are known as " red
shrimps," and some as " brown." The appetizing
flavour of these delicate crustaceans is perhaps not
conducive to popular examination or dissection
other than the stomach requires, or the great differ-
ence between the "red" and "brown" so-called
shrimps would be recognizable at once. In fact,
the "red shrimp" is not a "shrimp" at all, but a
young prawn ! It is known in many places as the
"Rock shrimp," from its habits. The rostrum, or
prolongation of the carapace between the antennw,
is the distinguishing feature of the prawn. In our
common species this is toothed like a saw (fig. 104),
whence its name of Falamon serratus. Of its two
pairs of antennre, the outer are very long, twice as
long as the animal's body. It is only in the young
state that this species approaches our shores ;
but its times and seasons are well known to
" shrimpers," and it falls a victim to its littoral
curiosity. Bell tells us that in some parts the
fishermen consider they drive away the true prawns ;
but the Professor believes this is due to the fact

Fig. 103. Palamon squilla.

the foregoing'; si ill you may trace a similar ser-
rated rostrum. The antennre are not so long, and
only the first pair of legs have pincers, whilst in
the fore-mentioned species the first two pairs are
provided with them. The common shrimp has a
simple hook, bent, and springing out of a thickened
base. The serratus when adult is four inches long,
the squilla attaining only half that length. Two
other and rarer species of prawn inhabit our seas,
but these are not often sold as shrimps. In
Great Yarmouth, however, another genus of
crustacean shares the honour with the prawn of
being an edible shrimp. This is the Pandalus
annulicoriiis, whose serrated rostrum and long
autennse give it a great resemblance to the serratus.
So abundant is it cff (his part of the Norfolk coast,
that its capture provides many fishermen with con-
stant employment. It differs from the true shrimp
in occurring at a considerable distance from the
shore; hence it goes by the name of the "sea
shrimp." The greatest length it attains is tw^o and

a half inelies. .

And now for our old, true, and tried friend, whicli

HAllDWICKE'5 SCIEN CE-G OSSIP.

157

has generously lent the credit of its great name to
the species above mentioned— the Crangoii vulgaris
(fig. 106). Practically it is distinguished from them
by its common name of "sand-shrimp," and still
more as the " brown." Notice its speckled back
and body, and you have before you another of those
instances of mimicry which naturalists are seeing
throughout the animal kingdom. Nothingcouldmorc
resemble the fine sandy bottom on which it squats,
and its protection is rendered doubly sure by the
jets of sand it casts up, and which settle down over
it and hide it. Here you have no rostrum, but a
broad, flat head, on which the eyes are placed at
wide intervals between. The internal pair of
anteunse terminate in two short feathered filaments,
and the two movable plates outside them, bristling
with sctaj, distinguish the shrimps at once. The
female shrimp carries her spawn underneath lier

Fig. 106. Common Shrimp [Crang-on vulgiiris),

abdomen the whole year round — an occurren ce
which you will never find in connection with the so-
called "red-shrimp," for the simple reason that the
latter is only in a juvenile stage. The spawn is
entangled among the "false feet," or swimmerets.
There could not have been a better arrangement,
considering its babits of burying itself in the sand,
than the manner in which the eyes are arranged for
seeing— on the top of the head. The "brown
shrimps " are fond of company, and their antics on
a sunny day are very joyous and vivacious. They
dart about, and even skip out of the water, in their
exuberance of spirits. But they are always found
in shallow water, and that where there is a fine
sandy bottom. Singularly enough, wherever the
true shrimp occurs you get few or no " red shrimps "
or prawns, one group invariably replacing the
other. J. E. Tayloi?.

SAWS OE SAW-ELIES.

A LTHOUGfl most of the books on the micro-
-^^^ scope contain an accurate description ol the
saw of the saw -fly, and the method of its use, yet
in none is there any mention of the variation in the
I^rm of the saw in the different species of the insect.
Some deposit their eggs in the hard bark of certain
plants, others make incisions through the softer

structures of the leaves ; and thus the arrangement
of the teeth, and the formation of tlie saws them-
selves, vary, all making most beautiful microscopic
objects. No doubt if we could know for certain
the exact structures these various arrangements
are intended to divide, our own mechanicians
might obtain many valuable hints from studying
the saws of these little insects. I have already
collected and mounted, during the present season^
more than a dozen saws, all perfectly different in

\\xKm'

Fig. 10". Saws of Sa«'-flies.
Xo. I. Saw of Large Green Saw-fly. 2. Black ditto. 3. Small
flitto. 4. Brownish ditto. 5. Black Saw-fly, with white
banded abdomen. 6. Large Yellow Saw-fly. 7- Yellow
ditto, with black thorax.

formation, a few of which I have delineated. They
are drawn from nature, with the neutral tint
reflector, the i-ineh objective being used. Eig. 1 is
the most remarkable saw I have yet seen ; for, be-
sides being beautifully toothed, along its sides are
arranged a series of scales placed in rows, the uses
of which it is difficult to imagine. Having many
times watched the process of depositing the egg,
after the requisite incision has been made in a leaf
by the insect, I cannot agree with those authors
who state that the egg is passed along the saws,
which form together a sort of tube for its passage
to its destination. The real ovipositor is placed
above the saw, and when the egg is being deposited,

15S

HAEDWICKE'S SCI ENCE- GOSSIP.

the saw is withdrawn into its sheath, the large size
of the egg, and the very structure of the saw itself,
making it impossible for the process to be accom-
plished as described by them. This can readily be
proved by obtaining a saw-fly full of eggs, and sub-
jecting it to pressure under the microscope, when
the exact relation of the parts will be sqgu.— James
W. Gooch.

THE AECHJilOLOGY OP EARE PLANTS.

HAVING seen a paper by my friend Mr. Edwin
Lees in Science-Gossip for April, in which
he mentions the occurrence of the Adrantm major
on the Weo Edge in tiiis parish, I beg, with your
permission, to make a few remarks on its probable
history in that spot.

When a plant is found growing some hundreds of
miles away from its native country, it becomes an
interesting questiion to determine how it may have
been transported to its new abode. That it lias
spontaneously started into existence, I presume no
one will at the present time maintain. Few either
would contend that the introduction of plants has
taken place in a capricious way without law or sys-
tem. The researches of Darwin and Lyell have
clearly shown that the flora of every district is more
or less related to that of the adjacent country, and
that if any strange forms occur, their presence may
be traced to some distinct cause. In many cases,
this cause may be extremely difficult to determine ;
but in some, by carefully attending to the sur-
rounding circumstances and conditions, it may
be possible to form a more or less probable con-
jecture.

Now it seems to me that the suggestion which
was made to me some years ago by a friend wlio
takes much interest in the antiquities and natural
history of this neighbourhood, as to the occurrence
of the Astrantia on Weo Edge, has much force, and
is, moreover, particularly interesting, as it connects
the spot where it grows with tliose dim ages of a
remote past which we all delight to picture to our
minds, and so to jealize the kind of people who
lived in them.

The place — and it is the only place in England
where the Astrantia grows with any appearance of
being indigenous— is tlie summit of an abrupt cliff
of Lower Ludlow shale, some 550 feet above the
valley through which a small stream, called the
Onny, flows. As elsewhere in the neighbourhood,
this formation or ridge of hills is crowned by a band
of what is known by geologists as the Aymestry
limestone, and it is on the soil formed from the
decay of this limestone that the plant in question
has found a congenial home.

And now, a few words as to its foreign abode.
Mr. Bciitham in his Botany has the following notice

of it : — " In woods and pastures in central and
southern Europe, not 'nearer than central France ;
occurs apparently wild in Stokesay Wood, near
Ludlow, and between Whitbourne and Malvern in
Herefordshire ; probably originally escaped from
some old cottage garden."

I remember a few years ago taking a friend, who
had travelled in Italy, to the top of the Weo Edge,
without telling him of the fact of the Astrantia
growing there, and was much struck by his ex-
clamation of pleasure and surprise when he
recognized the plant, then in full blossom, which he
had last seen flourishing on one of the mountains in
the north of Italy.

Can we show that any inhabitants of Italy ever
had access to this spot? An answer to this ques-
tion has been found in a most unexpected way.
Within a few miles of the Weo Edge, and close by
an ancient Eoman road which wends its way
between the two places, was discovered a few years
ago the remains of a Eoman villa, including the
hypocaust,';or thick'mass of concrete, supported on
a number of little pillars, by which the rooms were
warmed. Imbedded in this concrete was found, by
Mr. Staekhouse Acton, on whose ground the villa
was discovered, a peculiar shell, the Peutamerus
Knightii. Now it so happens that this fossil, which
is of a remarkable and unmistakable character, is
very abundant indeed at the Weo Edge, but is ex-
tremely rare, if it occurs at all, which is very
doubtful, anywhere nearer to the site of the vUla
than that hill.

The inference from this is apparently inevitable ;
the Eoman mason who constructed the hypocaust
used lime brought from the iWeo Edge, which is,
moreover, the best to be had in all the country
round.

Many other facts tend to the same conclusion.
The Astrantia grows chiefly on a kind of bank which
formed part of an old encampment, such as might
have been constructed to defend a few dwellings,
as we may well suppose the Eoman colonists had
frequent occasion to do. (3) The ground all round
the spot is completely honeycombed by the remains
of ancient limekilns, and there are innumerable
mounds everywhere of the rubbish which was thrown
out in raising the limestone ; and (3) that the spot
was frequented by waggons long before the present
roads were made is shown by the remains of roads,
long since unused, deeply sunk below the level of
the soil, showing how much they were frequented
in early times.

Is it then improbable that whenthe villa of which
I have spoken M^as in the course of erection (and
there is reason to thiuk that many others of a similar
kind once existed in the neighbourhood), a number
of Eoman workmen may have settled on this spoi,
and that they, in some way, brought this plant vith
them ? How many instances are there of flowers

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

159

much less attractive, having been conveyed by man
to considerable distances, by accident or design !
Indeed, Mr. Bentham has told me that the Astrantia
itself was often an inmate of old cottage gardens ;
showing that it was not despised as an ornamental
plant ; in fact, though not a showy one, it is by no
means common-looking or unattractive.

One more reason may be added to the above ;
namely, that the extent to which it has spread
throughout Stokesay Wood points to the time of
its introduction as being very remote.

J. D. La TorcHE.

Stokesay.

MICROSCOPY.

On an Ijipkoved Reflex Illujiinatob, for
THE Highest Powers of the Microscope, by
F. H. Wenham. — The above is the title of a paper
read by one whose name has become a household
word among microscopists, and all who use the
microscope owe him a deep debt of gratitude for
the many useful adjuncts he has from time to time
invented, and given to the public, without fee or
reward. Two of the best known are his paraboloid
and binocular prism. The former, as most of the
microscopical readers of S.-G. are aware, is used
for giving a black field, whilst the object is
brilliantly illumiuated, and few objects are more
beautiful than JPleurosigma formosum, Heliopelta
Metii, or Aulacodiscus formosus, when illumiuated
by means of the paraboloid. This method for obtain-
ing a black field is all that can be desired when no
higher objective is used than a \ ; but when the
highest powers came into more general use, it was
felt that the black field illumination to be used with
them was a desideratum. The author proposed
for this purpose a small truncated lens, attached to
the slide by means of oil of cassia or cloves, and
beneath this the paraboloid : this produced some
very good effects, but, to quote Mr. Wenham's own
words, it was a clumsy and unhandy combination, and
so difficult to manipulate that even in the hands of
experienced microscopists it sometimes failed to
show satisfactory results. The new illuminator
seems in every wiiy to be a great improvement on
the old plan, and if carefully made would produce
very satisfactory results. The illuminator consists
of a cylinder of glass, half an inch long, and y% in
diameter ; the lower convex surface is polished to a
radius of -^ ; the top is fl.at and polished, starting
from the bottom surface ; the cylinder is worked off
to a polished face at an angle of 6-1° ; close beneath
the cylinder is set a plano-convex lens of H focus.
The action of the cylinder will be understood by
referring to the following diagram (twice the
real size), a is the cylinder, b the lower plano-
convex lens, d;\d, f/rays of light reflected upwards

from the mirror. If the two sides of the cylinder
had been parallel, the rays would have passed on
to e ; but as one of the sides forms an angle with the
base, the rays impinge on the sloping side, and are
reflected from it upon th^ flat surface at such an
angle as to suffer total reflection, ''s shown by the

Fig. 108. Diagram of Reflex Illuminator.

black lines (/) : if, however, a drop of water is
placed on the surface of the cylinder, and brought
into contact with the lower surface of a slide (c)j
the rays pass through, as shown by the dotted lines'
and are now totally reflected by the upper surface,
the black lines at g representing the reflected
rays ; but if an object, such as a diatom valve, or a
podura scale, is in close contact with the slide, it
becomes brilliantly illuminated, one portion of the
ray passing into it, the other being reflected j thus
giving a perfectly black field. The apparatus is
made to rotate on the focus as a centre. The
required objects on the slide are found by a low
power. The light is thrown up either by a plane
or concave mirror : the former is generally the
best and most controllable. Having got the best
effects, say on a diatom or insect-scale, by tilting
the mirror, we now proceed to rotate the illuminator
During this, the most exquisite unfolding of
structure takes place. The inventor then proceeds
to describe the superb appearance of the podura
scale when illuminated by this contrivance. He
says Amphipleura pellucida assumes a substantial
appearance not seen iu any other way, and at once
displayed its strife with au g that had never
resolved them before. In an addendum he describes
some experiments in order to ascertain, if possible,
the distance at which objects on a total reflecting
surface were rendered visible by light transmitted
iu consequence of their presence or contact thereon,
and from these experiments he inferred that no
light or colour effect would be produced if the
object was not within the distance of an undulation
that would produce colour; this would be less than
the ten-millionth of an inch. For further details
we must refer the reader to the June number of the
Microscopical Journal. — F. Kitton,

IGO

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

Monthly Microscopical Journal. — The June
number of this journal is one of the best we have
seen for some time, containing some first-rate
articles, well illustrated, by our best writers. The
new volume commenf'Oo witli July, and we would
advise our microscopical readers to note the fact.

PoLARiscopE Object (Glance Erde). — The
powder of this mineral forms a good polariscope
object, somewhat similar to the scrapings of the
shell of the cuttlefish. Mounted in Canada bal-
sam and viewed through a seleuite plate, the play
of colours is very brilliant, especially with a deep
blue ground. If plates of mica of different thick-
nesses are placed on the selenite, many other tints
may be obtained. I do not know if this is a com-
mon polariscope object, but I have not met with
it before. -A. B. C.

ZOOLOGY.

Protection of Wild Eowl.— Every naturalist
and lover of nature will be glad to know that the
Wild Fowl Protection Bill passed its second read-
ing on the 12th of June. The feathered favourites
which add such animation to our sea cliffs, and the
rare birds which have hitherto been shot down to
their present rareness, will now have a chance in
the arduous battle of life.

Provincial Societies. — The Transactions of
the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society for
1S71-2 are more than usually interesting and valuable
on account of the great number of papers they
contain, by competent and well-known observers, on
local natural history. The Presidental address by
H. Stevenson, F.L.S., is a masterly review of the
work to be done, and of the papers read. An im-
portant paper by Mr. F. W. Harmer, F.G.S., on the
Marine Mollusca of the Norfolk coast, is paralleled
by another on the "Land and Fresh-water Shells"
of the neighbourhood of Norwich, by Mr. T. B.
Bridgeman, in which the writer states that 40
species of land shells and 38 fresh-water shells had
been met with. Mr. T. Southwell, the hon. sec,
contributes a paper on the " Occurrence of Ffioca
hispida on the Norfolk Coast;" Mr. Stevenson
another on the " Scoulton Gallery;" Mr. J. E.
Taylor, F.G.S., a paper on "The Norfolk Broads
and Mercs, geologically considered ; " Mr. C. G.
Barrett one on " Coast Insects found at Brandon,"
whilst Mr. Fred Kitton concludes with a paper of
more than local interest, on the "Spongcous
Origin of Flints." This paper wc hope to tran-fer
to our pages. The "Transactions" have several
pages devoted to ornithological and general natural
liistory notices, chiefly by i\Iessrs. Stevenson and
Guruey.

Fish Building Nests.— Professor Agassiz writes
from St. Thomas, to give an account of his discov-
eries concerning the Gulf weed and its living
inhabitants. The most interesting of the latter is
a fish which builds a nest. The nest is a ball of
sargassum about as large as two fists, and is
obviously carefully formed, with elastic threads
trending through it in all directions. AY hen such
a nest was put into a bowl of water, it was seen
that the central portion was much more closely
knitted than the rest. On the threads appeared,
also, a multitude of beads irregularly strung, of
about the size of a pin's head, and these beads, on
examination, proved to be eggs. With a little
care the eggs were preserved, and soon a dozen
little fishes rewarded the Professor's new marine-
hatching establishment. These fishes eventually
proved to be the young of the common CUronedus
pictus, a fish which is thus shown to construct a
floating harbour for the protection, and eventually
for the commissariat of its progeny. The creature
which performs this wonderful work has, it seems,
special un-fish-like faculties for the purpose. The
pectoral fins are supported by a kind of prolonged
wrist-like appendages, and the rays of the ventrals
are not unlike rude fingers. With these limbs.
Professor Agassiz saj'S, these fishes have long been
known to attach themselves to seaweed, and rather
to walk upon it than to swim. It is now clear,
also, that they use them for the construction of
their nests.

A Bare British Snake.— Eecord has been
made of the occurrence of that rare snake. Coluber
Austriacits, in Dorsetshire. The first authenticated
specimen was captured in June, 1854', and three or
four others have been met with since. The Dorset
individual measured over twenty-one inches in
length, and when disturbed, quickly approached
the intruder, with head erect, and tongue rapidly
moving in and out, putting on a very defiant look.

Neav Species of British Coleoptera.— In the
last number of the Entomologisfs 2Ionihhj Magizine^
Mr. E. C. Pi,ye describes three new species of
beetles. The first, Scydmcenus prceteritm, about
half an inch long, was taken at Croydon, Erith,
and in the Isle of Wight. Several other localities
are also mentioned. The second species is named
Tlialacrus Brisonti, taken near Gravesend ; length
about one line. The third is c^&^A)ithicus Scoticus,
one line and a quarter long, found in some numbers
on the shores of Loch Levcn, and elsewhere ia
Scotland.

Sponges. — In the Jane number of the Annals
and Magazine oj Natural Uislorij, Mr. H. J. Carter,
F.Il.S., describes two new species of sponges from
the Antarctic Sea, as well as a new species of
Tdlnjra, fro:n Shetlaiul. The latter part of the

HARDWICKE'S SCI E N CE-G OS SI P.

161

article is taken up with an interesting and elaborate
account of the production of sponges, commencing
from the zygosis of the sponge-animal, and tracing
the gradual development of the spiculaj. Dr. J. E.
Gray, E.E.S., in the same number, has an article on
the classification of sponges, in which he makes
some alteration in the paper on the same subject
published in the "Proceedings of the Zoological
Society," May, 1SG7. ,

Noxious and Beneficial Insects.— A good
example is set by the trans-Atlantic authorities to
other states. Mr. Charles Y. Riley, State ento-
mologist, has just published his " Third Annual
Report on the Noxious, Beneficial, and other Insects
of the State of Missouri." The subject is exhaust-
ively treated, and the illustrations numerous. The
larvs, chrysalids, and pupfc of all the insects
which affect the agriculturist are carefully deline-
ated, and their habits, structure, &c. plainly de-
scribed; so that tlie American agriculturists possess
an advantage over those of other countries in
knowing which are their enemies and which
tlieir friends. The Report of the Entomological
Society of Ontario for 1S71 has also just appeared,
including reports on some of the noxious and bene-
ficial insects of the province, illustrated by upwards
of a hundred woodcuts. The insects affecting the
apple, the wheat crops, and the cabbage, are de-
scribed by the Rev. C. J. S. Bethunc, president of
the society ; those affecting the grape, the currant,
and gooseberry, have been undertaken by Mr. W.
Saunders, vice-president ; whilst Mr. E. B. Reed
has given an account of the insects in connection
with the plum, potatoes, cucumber, melon, &c.
The Report, therefore, is of a most valuable
character, and the work well done.

The PiioTOZOA, &c. — Dr. T. C. Hilgard has
recently stated before the New Orleans Academy of
Sciences, that he recognized no such classes as
Protozoa or Frofop/ii/f a. He remarks that "all the
so-called Infusoria, all the Protozoa, Protophyta,
and fresh-water Algse, so-called, are severally and
collectively, in all known cases, the immature, but
even thus self-multiplyinggerms of higher (or adult)
forms of plants and animals, otherwise well known
for themselves.-"

Lauva oe the Eox-Moxn {Bomhjx ruLi).—
The occurrence of this species in the larval state
on the Sea Buckthorn is a little singular. It would
be curious to note whether they would eat the
leaves if they were at all moist with salt-water.
These larvffi seem usually to prefer bramble or
blackthorn, but they are occasionally found feeding
upon clover and heather. Many entomologists
have recorded it as their experience that the larva
of rubi cannot be brought through the winter
without some difficulty, most individuals dying off

in confinement during November. I hope Mr,
Garfit will be more fortunate with his brood. As
he asks for information, I beg to quote Mr. New-
man's suggestion for carrying them through. He
decidedly discards the "coddling" plan of treat-
ment which some have great faith in, and advises
thus : — " Obtain a tea-chest, or some other large use-
less wooden box without a lid ; fill the bottom with
heathy turf cut from a common, put the larvis with
their food on the turf, and cover the box with wire
gauze. Thus prepared, leave the whole in your
garden, exposed to wind and rain, and the moths
will emerge in due time." No doubt, it will be
advisable to protect this receptacle from very heavy
rains. I suspect, saving in very cold weather, these
larva; are seldom entirely inactive ; and they should
be supplied with green food now and then, which
they will nibble a little. Another mode might be
tried ; namely, that of dividing them off into par-
ties of about a score in each, these being placed in
flowerpots, with a little dry moss at the bottom,
the top being tied over with gauze. In any case,
efforts must be made to obtain for the survivors
(which may be but few) as early a supply of leaves
or expanding buds as possible, directly the influences
of the spring are showing themselves upon vegeta-
tion.—/. B. S. C.

Salmon Spawning.— It is astonishing to see in
what enormous quantities, and to what great dis-
tances, the salmon ascend the Siberian rivers.
Dozens of small streams which we passed in the
interior of Kamschatka, seventy miles from the sea-
coast, were so choked up with thousands of dead,
dying, and decayed fish, that we could not use the
water for any purpose whatever. Even in little
mountain brooks, so narrow that a child could step
across them, we saw salmon eighteen or twenty
inches in length, still working their way laboriously
up stream, in water which was not deep enough to
cover their bodies. We frequently waded in and
threw them out by the dozen with our bare hands.
— Tent Life in Siberia.

Young Caterpillars in Coneinement.— The
jam-pot will be found very serviceable for these,
amongst the Micro-Lepidoptera. It has long been
used by the rearers of the Tiueina, as leaves kept
therein do not dt-y up speedily. The top is covered
with a piece of plate-glass in that case ; but, in
using it for young caterpillars of the Bombyces and
Geometrse, I have tied it over with gauze or muslin.
Small twigs of shrubs, or stalks of herbaceous
plants, may be kept fresh in such a receptacle for
some days. One drawback, however, is this, that
what answers very well iu so far as the food is
concerned, does not always suit the young larvae.
Whsn the weather is cold, and they happen to
place themselves on the sides of the pot, they are
liable to become cramped, and are afterwards

162

HARDWICKE'S SCIBNCE-GOSSIP.

scarcely able to move about, or grasp leaves and
twigs for some days. Indeed, in the case of some
species, this -will prove actually fatal, as I found
last spring with a brood of the Emperor (S. car-
pint), and the Pale Tussoch (0. pudibimda). Pos-
sibly, some contrivance might be resorted to which
"would obviate this ; such as lining the pot with
paper, or some other material which caterpillars
could easily fis themselves upon, and which would
not chill them, yet still keep the leaves sufficiently
cool. I hai^e known some young larva3 to be fed
successfully for weeks shut up in glass tubes
corked at both ends, or in" bottles with widish
mouths. The plants will need to be renewed
occasionally — more frequently, of course, than if
placed with their stems in water, according to
another plan sometimes pursued. I3ut, by this
" bottling-up " method, the tendency of many
small larvae to wander from their food may be
overcome : as they grow larger, an atmosphere thus
confined seems prejudicial to them. — J, B. S. C.

BOTANY.

' Collection Catalogues.— I have experienced
the difficulties pointed out by Mr. P. T. Mott, in a
collection catalogue, and perhaps the plan that I
now pursue may suggest one still better. It is not
long since I commenced an herbarium, and I have
only used Mr. Harting's catalogue since the
summer of 1868. Pirst, I thought of confining my
collection to British plants, and in order to number
and arrange these, I took Hooker and Arnott's
"British Plora," and numbered consecutively every
species in the book. In my catalogue I put this
number opposite the specimen collected. As, how-
ever, I afterwards concluded to preserve plants
from any part of the world, and also, where speci-
mens were not attainable, to introduce pictures —
which inmany cases, especially with orchids, convey a
better idea of the plants than dried specimens — it
became necessary to alter the plan of my catalogue ;
but I retained the same principle, simply putting
Hooker and Arnott on one side, and using Lindley's
"Vegetable Kingdom" inits place. The only number
I use at present is the number of the natural
order in that work. I allow a cover to each genus.
On the cover I write the number, and the name of
the order, and under that the sub-order, tribe, &c.,
with the name of the genus at the left-hand corner.
The name of every genus only is indexed, and all
the pages of the catalogue in which it is to be found
are annexed. As to the pictures, I write them in
red ink, and if several of one order come in at once,
they may for present convenience be arranged alpha-
betically ; as, LII. Batcmannia, Calasctum, &c. ;
Dendrobium, &c. ; Eucyclia, &c. Everything is
entered in the catalogue when it enters the herba-

rium, and not before, and as each addition is made
the index is entered up. I can lay my hand on any
specimen that is put by, in two or three minutes ;
the others will not be of much practical use until
they are arranged. I have about 2,000 of the for-
mer, and a few hundreds (three or four) of the latter.
When the catalogue is full, there will be some
difficulty in the second volume. I shall then have
a separate index, and arrange the first one in it
alphabetically, as far as it goes with the reference
(Vol. I.), and go on with further-additions as before.
My catalogue has 300 pages, and is a convenient
size. I thmk the index (with 112 lines under each
letter) will prove to be rather small under some
letters, for I have already only ten lines left under C,
though the only genus I have under Y is Yucca :
but so far, Mr. Harting's catalogue has answered
my purpose very well. — R. H. A.

Bkitish GEKTiANACEiE. — lu the Journal of
Botany for June, Mr. James Britten, F.L.S., has
an interesting paper on the various species of the
above group, in which he has collected and arranged
a good deal of valuable material from fugitive and
other sources. He expresses his opinion that
Gentiana Amarella is not specifically distinct from
G. Germanica, a chain of intermediate varieties
connecting them. Gentiana Pneumonanthe is de-
scribed as still growing in the locality where it was
long ago discovered, — Nettleton Moor, near Caistor,
Lincolnshire. This rare plant is tolerably common
on St. Paith's Bogs, near Norwich.

GEOLOGY.

GlACIEKS in THE RoCKY MOUNTAINS. — Mr. R.
Bliss writes that last summer he and another
American geologist obtained ample evidence of the
former existence of glaciers in the Pocky Mountains,
and of some of the valleys having been filled with
ice. The rocks were polished, striated, and fur-
rowed. Their glaciation was traced to a height of
more than eight hundred feet. It was previously
thought that these mountains did not include any
evidence of glaciation.

A PossiL Bird of Prey. — The remains of an
extinct and gigantic bird of prey have been dis-
covered in South Island, New Zealand, associated
with those of Dinornis. It most nearly resembles
the New Zealand Harrier (Circus assimilis). Dr.
Haast states it to have been twice the size of the
Great Wedge-tailed Eagle of Australia {Aquilu
audax), and belonged to the genus Ilurpagornis.
This huge raptorial is supposed to have preyed upon
the young or feeble individuals of the extinct
Dinornis.

The Stone Age in New Jersey. — The two
profusely illustrated articles which appeared in the

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

ica

American NaturaU&t under tlie above bead, from
tlie pen of Dr. Abbott, have been reprinted. Dr.
.Abbott has classifled the various implements found
in his ueiglibourhood, and compared them with
those published in Nilsson's " Stone Age." One
peculiar feature about them is that they are mostly
composed of material not found in the district. The
pamphlet is ably and clearly written, and indicates
extended and careful observation.

The Geology op Ohio. — The State of Ohio
has just published a handsome volume, abundantly
illustrated with maps, sections, &c., of the Geo-
logical, Eeport of the State for 1870. The Intro-
duction, by Professor Newberry, chief geologist, is
of a very interesting character. The entire survey,
stratigraphical as well as pala3ontological, seems to
have been most exhaustively carried out. Other
reports are to follow this, of a more detailed and
elaborate character. Among other incidents, Pro-
fessor Newberry mentions the finding of a large
boulder of quartzite, half imbedded in the coal at
Nelsonville. Evidently this stone had settled into
the coal whilst it was in a comparatively soft state ;
but how it got there is a puzzle. The professor
thinks it probable that shore ice may occasionally
have formed, and thus the boulder might have been
brought. Is it not more probable, considering the
general character of the carboniferous vegetation,
that this stone might have been entangled among
the roots of a drifting tree, which, when stranded
and decomposed, left it in situ among the coal, of
which it has since formed a part ?

Deep-sea Corals. — Count Pourtales has just
described the deep-sea corals, &c., collected during
his recent expeditions. The most interesting of
these is the Haplophijllia paradoxa, dredged off
Bahia Honda, at the depth of nearly two thousand
feet. It is referred to the Rugose corals, which
have hitherto been confined to strata below the
coal-measures. The nearest allied form to it is a
fossil species in the Permian, CcdophyUumprofundmi.
The species, therefore, is of great antiquity, and
may be regarded as a belated form, analogous to the
Trigonia, still living in Australian seas. It is a
significant fact that nearly all the rare species allied
to extinct forms inhabit the deeper parts of the
sea-bed.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

LtTNAK IiJELtTENCES.— Get Lardner''s Iluseum of
Science and Art, No. 2, price fivepence, and you
will find there a very interesting note on supposed
lunar influence in cases of mental derangement.
Dr. Lardner, however, while giving the popular no-
tions and opinions of others on the subject of lunar
influences in this and in other matters, clearly
thinks that few \\7.\efact for a foundation. Hippo-
crates and Galen bcLeved firmly in the influence of

the moon ; they said that the critical days in various
diseases corresponded with the intervals between
the moon's chief phases ; namely, the 7th, 14th, and
21st of the sickness. Lunar eclipses always made
Bacon faint, but he was no lunatic; and Gall states
that he has observed patients who were of weak in-
tellect peculJMrlv excited at full and new moon.
Should " 11. P. tJ." fail to obtain the little work I
have mentioned (as I see it was published in ISSIO,
I will, with pleasure, lend him the book.— IT. E.
Watney.

Canine Gyrations. — I heard a few years ago a
solution given to the question alluded to by Mr.
C. F. White. It was during a course of lectures
on science delivered by Mr. G. D. Wood, of Queen's
College, London. He remarked that the gyrations
made by the cat and dog were part of their natural
hereditary instinct, which cannot be eradicated. Wild
animals of the feline tribes, when in a wild state,
sleep in a sort of lair or bed, which they make for
themselves, among tall grass, weeds, rushes, &c.,
and which is formed by these gyrations, the animals
turning themselves round and round, not to find the
head of the bed, but in order to prepare a bed where
to lay their heads. — Barbara Wallace F^fe, Notting-
ham.

The Liver.— In this locality (Langport, Somer-
set) a large portion of the moors through which
the Parrett runs abounds with the Yellow Iris
(F sited- Acorns'). These plants are commonly called
by the " natives " livers, and the land where they
grow is designated liver-ground. Was not Liver-
pool, then, a tract of marshy ground in which these
livers flourished and on the margin of which the
germ of the now mighty commercial giant first took
xoQi?-W. B.Paul.

Wasps' Nest. — Can any of your readers give
me a receipt for preserving a w asps' nest, which
was taken in a bush ? I have had it some time, in
the hope that the smell would gooff by the young
larvse drying up ; but such does not seem to be
the case. I should be glad to know of an effectual
cure for it. — J.L.C.

Nemertes. — Will you allow me to ask in your
magazine some questions respecting a "Nemertes"
fished up at Hunstanton some days ago ? It came
up in a trawl-net from about three fathoms' depth,
' and when first seen was knotted up round a bit
of sponge. We put him on the deck, and he
then unwound his coils to a length of three feet
each. There appeared to be five or six of these
slender snake-like feelers. Tlieir colour was a
deep brown, almost black, and velvet to the touch,
and their diameter did not exceed one-eighth of an
inch. We kept this Nemertes on shore in a bucket
of sea-water, while we searched for a description
of him ; but were obliged to throAV him away next
morning. We could find no description of any
nemertes possessing different feelers ; and I there-
fore venture to trouble you with these questions.
— Fred. Cresswell.

Saefron.— Allow me to take exception to tw^o
paragraphs in Mrs. H. E. Watney's learned disqui-
sition on Saff'ron at p. 107, Science-Gossip, for
May. First, Mrs. Watney tells her readers that
"English saifron is considered the best. Tlie
Spanish Azafran is dipped in oil to preserve it,
and this is supposed to take from its value."
The truth is, that English saftrou is now seldom

161

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

or never seen, and as a commercial article Spanish
saffron, or Azafran, if Mrs. Watney prefers it,
is generally regarded as the best kind: though
it might at one time have been dipped in oil,
such is not the practice now. Next in quality to
the Spanish comes Frencli, and then Italian. A
reference to p. 349 of Lindley and Moore's "Trea-
sury of Botany," or p. 444 of Beiitley and Red-
wood's new edition of "Pereira," will confirm these
statements. The next paragraph of Mrs. Vv'atue.v's
I have to deal with runs as follows— "The Meadow
Saffron is a different plant ; from it colchicum is
produced ; and we likewise have an early purple
crocus, the C. Vermis, or spring crocus; but neither
of the latter possess any medicinal virtues, I be-
lieve." The colchicum produced from the Meadow
Saffron, which is the Colchicum autumnale, L., does
really possess medicinal virtues; it is an article
well known to every medical man, and is given in
different forms, in rheumatism, dropsy, &c. Wine
of colcliicum is a popular specific in gout. In
point of medicinal value the Colchicum is a more
important plant than the Crocus. — John R. Jackson,
KeiD.

The Saffkon. — I am much obliged to both your
correspondents " H. B." and J. W. White, for
drawing my attention to an error which appeared
in my notice of this plant published in the May
numliier of Science-Gossip. I seldom read my
effusions in print. I ought to do so when proofs
are not furnislied, and critics, who have drunk
" deeply " of the " Pierian spring," on the alert. I
also know that I am a careless writer, and that the
best of P. D.'s is not infallible. I believe I wrote,
or at any rate I intended to do so, — "There are
three species of crocus besides the saffron crocus,
— the naked-flowering, the lesser, and the spring cro-
cus ; neither of which possess any medicinal
virtues." The C. nudijlorus, or naked-flowering
crocus, produces its bloom before the leaves. Mr.
White probably alludes to tliis species. "H. B."
asks, "What is colchicum?" As I have sent up
a notice of the plant from which it is extracted, 1
will only subscribe myself, — H. E. Watney.

Tufted Duck. — I should doubt the bird
described by "G. E. R." being a Tufted Duck, or,
at least, a sure bred one in any state of plumage.
I infer from its having a crest that it was a drake.
—G.

Pigeons. — Can any of your correspondents
inforui me if it is a common circumstance tor two
birds to be hatched from one egg ? I have a pair
of Beards so hatched. They are both healthy and
alive. — Columba.

Chemical Puopeiities of Pdngi.— What are
the chemical properties of the fungi wliicli cause the
luxuriant growth of grasses on the fairy rings?
Does the manuring property arise from the decom-
position of full-grown fungi, or is it attracted from
the atmosphere or soil by tlie spawn ? — 11. IT. D.

SuGAKiNG^— Reading the article on moth-collect-
ing by Dr. Xnaggs reminded me of my old plan of
boxing insects alter sugaring. I carry a number of
"Vesuvian" boxes, and when the insect is quietly
settled, I place over it the half-opcm drawer, and
sliding it in, capture my prize without risk from
handling, or any necessity for a net. I also use a
small, flat, dark lantern, fixed by a leather strap
round tlic waist, which arrangement leaves the hands
at perfect liberty. — //'. G.

The "Game Cock."— Is the "Game Cock,"
now happily scarce, merely a variety of the genus
" Gallus," handed down to us, unmixed, from remote
antiquity ? Or is it, as I have been told by one who
speaks, as he says, from personal knowledge, across
between the cock pheasant and the farm-yard hen ?
—J. W. B.

Natural History Guide to Scarborough. —
It may be of interest to some few readers of
Science-Gossip, who may perchance visit Scar-
borough, to know that there is a guide to that
place containing a list of the local fauna and flora
of the neighbourhood, and also the precise spots
where they occur. These lists have been compiled
by several eminent naturalists resident in the
vicinity of Scarborough, and who have for some
time past worked the neighbourhood with consider-
able patience. The botanist, zoologist, entomologist,
and geologist will find this book a most valuable
assistance in their pursuits whilst sojourning there.
The publisher is S. W. Theakstou, of Scarborough.
—H. A. AuUl.

A Microscopical Difficulty. — Believing that
a record of failures is sometimes as useful as a
notice of success, I wish to mention a difficulty I
have long experienced in the preparation of a
certain class of microscopic objects, and to request
the advice of some of your more experienced cor-
respondents in suggesting a remedy. I have long
taken much interest in the preparation and mount-
ing of the various spiculaj found in the skins of
British and foreign Synaptee, Holothurise, and
Chirodotse, as well as those of Gorgonise ; but
hitherto without the invariable success 1 hoped for.
The difficulty has been, how to remove the soft
parts completely without destroying the calcareous
spiculae. I have tried liquor potassse pure, and in
almost every degree of dilution ; but the result has
been that, after a time, a portion of the fleshy sub-
stance becomes insoluble, or is converted into a
sticky substance, like birdlime ; on further boiling
to remove this, the spiculse begin to corrode, and
after a time disappear altogether. Thinking that
the previous preservation of some of these specimens
in spirit may have hardened the skins, I have tried
previous maceration in pure water, but without
success. In the cases where I had mounted some
that were clean and very carefully and well washed,
they remained perfect for some years, but vdtimately
the same corroding process began to show itself,
although I had no reason to suppose there was any
fault in the Canada balsam. 1 should, however,
observe that some prepared apparently in the same
way ten years ago remain as good as ever, though I
really cannot say why ; showing that my failure is
not an unavoidable one. 1 shall feel extremely
obliged for any suggestions that yourcorrespoudeuts
may kindly oli'er.— A'. Battersby.

IIow TO Kill Moths.— I see in your May num-
ber of Science-Gossip a request for some receipt for
destroying moths, i have one, which has kept them
off lor about thirty years. I believe it never fails
to keep off moths, but am not sure it will destroy
them. Spirits of wine, 4 pint ; spirit of turpentine,
f pint ; camphor, 3 oz , to be shaken before using,
and kept in a stone bottle. The woollen clothes or
furs to be wrapped in linen, and crumpled-up
pieces of Wottiug-paper, dipped in the liquid, to be
placed in the box with ihc.n, so that it smells
strongly. This requires renewing about once a year.
— Maryaret Lotoe.

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

iG5

Gold fish. — There being a considerable sale of
these fish here, and consequently a system of rearina:
I find from inquiry that the difficulty experienced
by "T.D.," from the cannibalism of the seniors,
is thus obviated: — On the surface of the water lay
a trellis-work of reeds, upon which place a suffi-
cient quantity of fine grass taken fi-om a pond or
river-bank, to protrude about two inches below.
The sjiawn will adhere to this, and must be removed
by lifting the frame, and gently shaking it over the
top of another receptacle, where tliey are hatched
and kept till strong enough to fight their own bat-
tles. Should no grass be obtainable, carefully pulled
tow can be used. — F. B. B., MaUn.

Marine Aquaria (p. 112).— As stated in last
month's Science-Gossip, a marine aquarium is to
be established inMaucheste". It will be very simi-
lar to the one at the Crystal Palace, but with such
improvements as experience has shown to be ndvis-
able. The building will measure 120 ft. by 70 ft.,
and will be divided into three ; viz., two side galle-
ries, each 120 ft. by 15 ft., and a grand saloon
120 ft. by 40 ft. There \yill be about forty tanks
iu each side gallery, ranging in capacity from 300
to 3,000 gallons, whilst the grand saloon will con-
tain two tanks — the largest vet constructed, — each
30 ft. by 10 ft. by 8 ft., capable of containing 15,000
gallons apiece. In the grand saloon also will be
the tidal tanks, whicb will vary in capacity from 20
to 200 gallons. Lastly there will be table aquaria
provided for the smaller inhabitants of our ponds,
ditches, and streams, and an ever-flowing fountain,
or miniature lake, for the larger.— G'. //. U.

The Parrot a Cuckoo. — Last spring our grey
parrot was hung up in his cage outside the kitchen-
door. He hung among shrubs thnt grew near the
woods where the cuckoos were calling all day long.
Of course the parrot learnt to imitate the sound,
and his "cuckoo" was as perfect as possible.
When the summer was over, Polly ceased to
cuckoo, and seemed entirely to have forgotten her
accomplishment. One day last February she was
hung out in the sun ; no cuckoos had arrived as
"yet to remind her with their voices, but she struck
up cuckoo of her own accord, as if the spring and
the warm sun had brought the idea back to her
memory. In consequence several people mentioned
as a fact that they had heard the cuckoo iu February.
Polly is cuckooing brilliantly now, and will evi-
dently take up the habit regularly every spring of
her own accord. — M. A. D.

Extraordinary Tenacity of Life in Cater-
pillars.— In April I had in my possession several
larvae of tlie Tiger-moth _(^:f. Caja), which were then
about half-grown. While changing their food, one
of them without my perceiving him got out, and in
moving about I accidentally trod upon him, forcing
out the whole of the intestinal canal and digestive
apparatus which runs down the centre of the body,
through the anal aperture. I removed these parts
and placed the caterpillar on one side in a small
open box, and two days afterwards was astonished
to find that it had not only crawled out of the box
but a further distance of some two yards. On
taking th-e caterpillar up I discovered it to be still
alive, but died about ten hours afterwards ; so that
it lived some fifty-eight hours without food and
without intestines.— C. A. Byau.

Curiosities of Bird Life.— At the end of last
March, a pair of Blackbirds built their nest iii a

yew-tree, and in due time reared their brood :
after having turned them out on "the wide world"
to do the best they could for themselves, the parent
birds quietly ret_urned to the old nest, cleaned it
out, and re-lined it ; the hen bird then proceeded to
lay, and is again hatching. I know it is the same
pair of birds, from the fact of the hen having alight-
coloured brrast, and white feather in her tail: tliis
I should think is a verv uncommon case. —
Ralph II. lFestropp,A.B.,T.C.D.

A Microscopical _ Difficulty.— Having some
spare time, and wishing to employ it in an intel-
lectual manner, I some time since purchased a
microscope, an excellent binocular instrument, with
a complete set of object-glasses, &c., and also
Carpenter, the Micrographic Dictionary, and several
other books, intending to devote an evening or two
a week to the study of the animal and vegetable
inhabitants of the ponds in my neighbourhood,
which are numerous and prolific in beautiful objects ;
but, at the outset, I encountered a difficulty which
nearly twelve mouths' perseverance has not enabled
me to overcome ; and I am sure that some of your
able correspondents, if they would give their
assistance by an article or articles in Science-
Gossip, would be conferring a great boon, not only
upon myself, but upon hundreds of others who are
similarly situated. My difficulty is this : having
collected my specimens, animal or vegetable, to
know how to set about examining them, and
especially how to find out their names. This latter
problem solved, books become really useful, but
they afford little assistance in attaining this object.
No doubt the best and easiest way of getting over
the difficulty, would be to obtain the aid of some
skilled microscopist ; but 1, like many other would-
be naturalists, reside in a country village, far re-
moved from the realms of Science, and where it is
utterly impossible for me to obtain, even at intervals,
such assistance. Under these circumstances I trust
you will pardon my trespassing on your space, with
the suggestion, that some of your correspondents
should take up the matter in your columns. — J.U.C.

Golden Eagle in Somersetshire.— Mr. Gilford
would add to the interest of his communication on
this subject if he would kindly add some more
particulars, such as the date of the capture,
and a short distinctive description of the bird,
especially of the feathers of the tail, and also of those
of the tarsus, if any. This might give us some notion
as to the age of the birds, whether they were merely
young birds driven oft' by their parents, and wan-
dering about, or adult birds about to settle in the
Dooue valley. The question as to the feathered
tarsus would settle the question of identity, should
such questions arise. — C. S.

The Woodpigeon's Cry.— Perhaps the follow-
ing very amusing incident, with regard to the Wood-
pigeon's cry, may not prove uninteresting to some
of your readers, whilst the facts are entirely new to
all. The circumstances happened some years ago,
at Narberth, S. Wales. It was nearly midnight, when
a thief made his way to a farmyard, in the vicinity
of the ancient town, for the purpose of helping
himself to a plump sheep. He reached the yard,
and was just iu the act of carrying off his booty,
when he thought he heard some one behind him
speak iu a subdued tone. He listened, and trem-
bled ; but all was still ; not a sound was to be '
heard. But, presently, just as he was on the point
of moving, he heard the supposed voice again, this
time clearer, saying in lengthened sepulchral notes,

166

HAKDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

"Take two sheep, Taffy!" The affrighted Taffy
instantly let go his hold of the sheep, and dashed
from the spot with lightning speed, miagnnng that
a certain unmentionable personage was eyemg him.
It turned out, however, to be a wood-pigeon,
■which uttered tlie cries on being disturbed by the
marauder. — G. 0. Howell.

Cuts fob Microscopic Objects.— Allow me
to suggest, for the benefit of those of your readers
who may be unable to obtain convenient clips for
preparing microscopic objects, that the clips used
in making ucck-ties are exactly the thing wanted.
They are very convenient, and occupy very little
space. I constantly use them myself, and should
any of your readers be unable to obtain some
themselves, I will forward any 1 number on receipt
of value. They are Is. a dozen— Horace E. Bmcne.

EiELD Clubs.— Could you, or any of your cor-
respondents, tell me of a field or microscopical
club near Clapton or Dalston ? I have written to
three mentioned in your columns, but they are
closed. Might I suggest that when clubs are thus
brought before the public their secretaries should
take the same [means of notifying their closings ? It
■would save much time.—/. B. Davies.

Age of Eerks.— 1 do not remember having
seen mention made of the age of ferns. ^Fila- Mas
seems to live long, for I have many specimens that
were planted twenty-one years ago, when they had
already attained a respectable size. They were
planted in deep peat, but have had to contend with
those adverse influences which render gardening
difficult in a garden at the back of one of the houses
in Grosvenor Street ; and, nevertheless, they have
again brought forth their ten or twelve vigorous
fronds, and seem inclined to do so for many years
to come.— ^. /. T.

The Cuckoo.— a wish is expressed by the writer
of the article on the Cuckoo in the May number
that any one would assist him by communicating
their observations on the Cuckoo's habits ; and as
it so happened that a few years ago a cuckoo
deposited its egg in a hedgesparrow's nest in
some ivy against my garden-wall, I had the pleasure
of daily wal ching the growth and peculiar habits of
the young bird, and I was especially struck by the
fact, that the whole time it was under the fostering
care of the hedgesparrows, an_ old cuckoo fre-
quented tlie trees in the immediate locality of the
nest, apparently signifying by its call its own know-
ledge of the young one's whereabouts, and a natural
interest in its welfare. I discovered the young bird
shortly after it was hatched, and, before it could fly, I
frequently took it out of its nest, and showed it to niy
friends. When it became too big for the nest, but still
unable to fly, it got out of the nest, and roosted in
the currant or gooseberry bushes in the garden.
This continued for, 1 suppose, nearly tiiree weeks
or more ; and, even after it could fly tolerably well,
it would allow me to catch it ; and it was especially
amusing to sec the little hedgesparrow feeding the
cuckoo, so much larger than itself. During the
■whole of this time, I have no doubt it was the
parent bird which frequented the spot, for shortly
after the young one became fully fledged and well
able to fly, both it and the others disappeared
together ; thus confirming your correspondent's
and my own ideas that the Cuckoo is not so un-
natural a parent as is generally supposed. — C. J.
Rowley.

Passiflora c.erulea.— It is a mistake to say
that this plant was not introduced till 1099. It is
figured and described as a well-known plant culti-
vated in England, both by suckers and seeds, in
Parkinson's Paradisus in Sole, 1629. He likewise
gives a figure of it as falsely depicted by the Jesuits,
showing plainly the instruments of the Crucifixion,
and has some very amusing observations on their

j misrepresentations, which he compares with a cor-
rect figure of the plant. It is also figured and
described in Johnson's addition to Gerarde (1636).
I am aware that Loudon gives the date 1699 as
that of its introduction, but it is certainly an error.

' — Eden Wanoick.

I ^ How to Destroy Clothes Moths.— In reply
! to " VV.M. M.," it may be stated that the eradication
\ of these insects is confessedly a matter of diffieulty.
The moths, as " W. M. M." is probably aware, are
not the real offenders, that is to say, they do not
! actually cause the damage, though injurious, as
! they are the parents of the destructive larvae
1 and to kill them, or prevent them from depositing
their eggs, is important. Camphor and benzole
are of service; also sulphur ; but these things must
be used in a confined space, since their odours, if
diluted with air, will only stupefy, and the moths
revive again. The larvae defy any applications of
this sort, though it is possible the fumes of strong
tobacco, being dense, might kill, if brought into
close contact with them. Baking the garments,
could that be done, would prove destructive to the
insects in all their stages. — /. B. S. C.

What's the Use of Saffron to Cage Birds ?
—Mrs. Watuey's article upon this plant of many
memories suggests to me to put into print a ques-
tion which has often occurred to me. There is a
very general belief amongst bird-fanciers, as well as
that numerous portion of the public who keep a
solitary caged bird, that saffron infused in the water
given to the bird at the time of moulting (or even
at other times when a bird is "out of sorts"), is of
particular benefit. I have followed the popular
idea, and often thus administered it, but very much
incline to the opinion that it is inefficacious. If it
acts at all, the effect must certainly be produced on
the homoeopathic principle, since the saffron itself
will not be touched by the bird, and the amount of
soluble matter imparted to the water by the few-
blades of saffron added to the water must be small
indeed. The action, if any, must be stimulating, as
it is thus noticed to influence the human subject;
but then it needs to be given in considerable
quantity. A good deal of the saflVon sold, however,
is partially exhausted, both of its colouring and
active principle, ere it gets into the market. —

J. B. s. a

A Nest in a Garbage.— A few days ago I saw,
in a neighbour's garden, a hedgesparrow's nest
built amongst the flowering branches of a large
" curled green." The nest was placed on the end
of the stalk, where the top had been cut off, so that
there was very little or no shelter above ; and a
heavy thunder-shower had drowned the young
birds. I do not tiiink I ever saw a bird's nest in a
cabbage hci^ore.—Boljert Holland.

Stickleback. — When passing by a stream last
month, a small fish attracted my attention. On
taking it up, I found it to be a stickleback
{Gasierosleus aculeal us, lihrn.), but round the lower
half of its body were a quantity of small fine hairs

HARDWICKE'S SCIBKCE-GOSSIP.

167

of a whitish colour. I took it hoime and kept it in
water, but it only lived three days. The hairs
increased in quantity and length so much, that by
the time it died its body was completely covered.
There was another in a similar state. Can any of
your readers give me an explanation of this ? —
C. L. W.

Montagu's Harrier.— On the 1.5tli of May
my friend P. Brent, Esq., of Plymouth, kindly
presented me with a fine old male Mon-
tagu's Harrier {Circus Ilontagui), in the flesh,
which he had purchased of the _ warrener at
Trowlsworthy, on Dartmoor, In its crop and
stomach I found no less than fourteen lizards, all
six inches in length, and nearly perfect, with the
exception of the brittle tails of some, which had
come off, but were still lying by the sides of the
reptiles in the stomach of the bird. There were
also the remains of many others. How exceedingly
guick the sight and actions of the Harrier must be
in capturing so many of these agile creatures, for
we are all familiar with the rapid movements of the
lizard, which instantly vanishes on the slightest
alarm. Young or immature specimens of Montagu's
Harrier in their brown plumage are occasionally
met with in Devonshire ; but one in the ash-grey of
maturity is rarely seeu, and, but for the discern-
ment of Mr. Brent, this fine specimen would doubt-
less have been entirely lost, or have shared the
ignominious fate of many other (rapacious)
ornithological rarities, by being nailed on door or
wall. — /. Gatconibe.

Yellow-hammer {Ember iza cih-ineUa).— Is it
usual for the Yellow-hammer to build on spruce
fir, as I have this season found three nests of
these birds upon one tree, from four to six feet
from the ground ; and all of these nests were within
a very short distance from each other ? When I
found the first nest it had no eggs in it. I then
commenced to examine it, and found it to be built
of the same materials as the Yellow-hammer's. I
was surprised at this, for I never thought of this
bird being in this situation; and I expressed my
surprise to my son. I went on farther, and found
the second one, and it was without eggs also. The
nest was of the same construction as the first; I
had no further evidence of it being this bird's. I still
went a little farther, and found the third of these
nests, which had three eggs in it. I then had no
further doubt about their being the Yellow-ham-
mer's.—/. Taijlor.

;- Tawny Owl {Syrnium Aluc6).—0xi April 25th,
an acquaintance passing by showed me a young
owl of this species, which had just been procured
from a hollow tree in Kingston Park. It was a
most funny little bird, nearly full-feathered, the
brown limbs of the adult plumage appearing here
and there. His head was a mass of soft downy
feathers, and his legs neatly covered with a pair of
very respectable stockings, warm and comfortable,
except a bare patch liigh up the leg, worn off by
the friction of resting on that part. This little owl,
though in juvenile attire, had an air of wisdom far
beyond his years (or weeks), and his look of settled
melancholy was enough to make a person decidedly
uncomfortable. One would imagine, to look at his
severe, grave, and misanthropical physiognomy, that
the weight of centuries had rested on his head, and
that his share of the trials and troubles of the world
had been by no means unlimited. He was dis-
covered in broad day perched bolt-upright at the

entrance of the hole, and taking a few winks of the
"balmy," A tap on the trunk, and the large goggle-
eyes opened in that methodical way known to the
owners of wax dolls, and the hitherto unknown
object developed into a^ baby-owl. A ladder was
procured, his capture effected, and an inspection of
his domicile led to the discovery of a good-sized
rabbit, provided no doubt by his thoughtful parents
for their darling's dinner. The little owl is now
kept in an out-house and regaled with callow birds,
preparatory to doing duty as a feathered policeman
or beadle in a gentleman's garden. Query — Is not
the above date somewhat early for young owls, or
at least for such a fully-developed specimen as this
was?— 7/-^. H. IFanier, Kingston.

A Shower OP Progs. — I quote the following
from "The Life of Thomas Cooper," written by
himself (pages 20-1). 1 know my noble old friend
— the author of the "Purgatory of Suicides" — too
well to believe for a moment in the possibility of a
mistake on his part in this matter. " The ride in
the carrier's cart, too, between Hasen and Gains-
borough, had its delights. One time, we set off
from Kasen late at night, and drew up in an open
field, sometime before the morning broke, to let the
horses graze a little. I have a most lively recollec-
tion of awaking in the cart, and looking out in
amazement at what seemed to be hundreds of small,
dull, strange-looking lights, scattered over the wide
field. My uncle told me they were glowworms ;
and he had never seen so many together before.
Nor have I ever had such a vision of wonder as
that, since boyhood. * * * * *
My mention of the strange vision of the field of
glowworms reminds me of another natural pheno-
menon I witnessed when a boy. I saw a shower of
live frogs. I record this, because I have read, not
only in that beautiful old book of Piaj 's, " The
Wisdom of God intUe Creation," but in later books
affecting great fidelity to facts in science, that such
a sight is impossible. I am as sure of what I relate
as I am of my own existence. The minute frogs,
jumping alive, fell on the pavement at our feet, and
came tumbling down the spouts from the tiles of
the houses into the water-tubs." The italics are
Mr. Cooper's own. The date M'ould be fifty-five
years ago, or more. — JF., Oxford.

Irritating Effects of Caterpillar's Hairs.
— These being very sharp-pointed, enter the skin,
and act like little thorns. The number produces
a very unpleasant effect, and the more so the
thinner the skin. They are quite as bad as cowage,
and the hairs ou the leaves of the red dogwood are
as bad as either, but a little oil rubbed on the skin
will usually set all right. — E. T. S.

Birds Eating their Eggs. — Some time ago I
was asked a similar question about hens. They use
their egg shells and the small bits of skin adhering
to them to feed their newly-hatched chickens, and
I expect other birds do the same. The lime in the
shell helps to strengthen the bones of the chick. —
E. T. S.

Lesser Pettychap (p. 143). — Your correspon-
dent " G.," while endeavouring to set others right,
is himself wrong. S. ricfci is the name given to the
bird by continental authors, while S. hippolais is
retained by British authors. " G." is also wrong
in saying that it may not be generally known that
the Lesser Pettychap is the same as the Chiffchaff ;
all the works I possess givius both names.— /iT. H.
Warner, Kingston.

168

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE - G 0 S S IP.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

All communications relative to advertisements, post-office
orders, and orders for the supply of this Journal, should be
addressed to the Publishkr. All contributions, books,
and pamphlets for the EniTore should be sent to 192,
Piccadilly, London, W. To avoid disappointment, contri-
butions should not be received later than the 15th of each
month. No notice whatever can be taken of communica-
tions uhic/i do not contain the name and address of the
writer, not necessarily for publication, if desired to be with-
held. We do not undertake to answer any queries not
specially connected with Natural History, in accordance
with our acceptance of that term ; nor can we answer
queries which might be solved by the correspondent by an
ai^ieal to any elementary book on the subject.

J. W. H. — The pretty flowers sent are those of the " Milk-
wort" {Polygala vulgaris), pink and blue varieties.

F. G., Norwich.— Your query is difficult to answer, but on
the whole it is possible that the Chaffinch, having a more
general distribution, is more numerous than the House Spar-
row ; that is, taking- the country through.

L. T. — You are quite right,— the moss is Pottia truncata.
F. C. — See last number of SciKNCK-Gosrfp, Dr. Knaggs's
artic'e on " Collecting and Preserving." The larvK in public
collections are preserved by professionals, who keep their
mode of working as secret as possible.— C. G. 15.

H. M. J. H.— A first-class work on British Diptera (illus-
trated) is that by Mr. Francis Walker, F.L.S., published by-
Reeve, Covent Garden.

A New Subscriber, Torquay.— Your query respecting
storm-glasses should have been sent to some publication
devoted to physical rather than to natural science ; but we
-will endeavour to answer it. The instruments usually sold
are closed at the top, and have a brass cap cemented over
them. We have made them of Eau-de-Cologne bottles, and
after filling, simply corking them. We never heard of any
opening being lelt ; in fact, if there were, the fluid would
quickly evaporate. They, as you are probably aware, are per-
fectly useless as indicators of the weather, and the crystalline
changes that take place are most probably due to changes of
temperature. If you push the cork a little way into the tube
and pour a little asphalt varnish on the top of it, you will
find it will seal up the opening effectually.

H. G.WiSE. — We cannot without seeing the instrument
assign a reason for the imperfect illumination of the field in
your binocular. Try a piece of fine ground glass between the
object-slide and the condenser ; this will diffuse the light and
very materially add to the stereoscopic effect. Our instru-
ment performs well even with as high an objective as a J
when the ground glass has a strong pencil of light condensed
on the under surface.

J. G.,jun., Londonderry. — Colloid Silica can be obtained
by dialysing a preparation of silicate of soda (which may be
procured at most chemists). This is decomposed by hydro-
chloric acid, and the liquid is placed in a dialyser, and the dia-
lyser placed in pure water. After the lapse of a short time the
crystalline material passes through it, leaving the colloid
si ica bclind. A di nyser resembles a little tambourine, and
is made of a ring of gutta-percha, over which is sti-etched
parchment-paprr (writing-paper will do). The dialyser is
floated in a vessel containing distilled water. — F. K.
DiATo.M. — We think A. would suit you best.
A Subscriber, Ashburton. — Immersion lenses are made
on a principle devised by Amici, which was adopted by Hart-
nach and Nachet of Paris, and several of the American
«)])ticians, but did not find favour here until the last few years,
when the advantages of objectives constructed on the immer-
sion principle began to be recognized. An immersion lens is
so called from tlie circumstance of a drop of water being
placed between the front lens and the object itself, on the thin
covering glass, so that the rays leaving it pass through a film
of vrater instead of air. It is well known that the loss of light
from the reflection of oblique rays from a surface of glass is
much less when they pass from water into glass than from air
Into glass. Immersion objectives require special corrections
for the purpose, and are useless if used as an ordinary dry
lens. Our leading opticians are therefore adapting an extra
front combination to the ordinary high power, by means of
which they can be used either as wet or dry lenses. Several
papers on the construction and advantages of immersion len-
ses will be found in the Munthly Mic. Jour. — F. K.

H. H., Leeds.— The Water-beetle is Hydroporus depnssus,
recently out of pupa. Your specimens were smashed. They
ought to have been enclosed in a cork cell, or in a quill or
small box.

J. S. D. — Instruments, &c., for egg-blowing may, we should
think, be obtained at any first class philosophical instrument
maker's, Sec.

G. B. — The plant sent is Neottia nidns-avis.

A. A. C. — We cannot tell what is the best fond for birds in
aviaries, unless we first know what kind of birds are kept.

F. F. M.— Specimens mislaid. Numbers I and 2 are difficult
to determine. They are the midribs of sea- weeds ; but we
cannot tell the species. Number 3 is a zoophyte, Membruni-
pora pilosa.

John Le Bas.— The specimens were not exuviae of fishes,
or anything organic. No organic remains whatever are found
in mica-schist. The specimens seem to us to be decomposed
felspar, with a proportion of iron.

A Working Mav. — You had better ask us some definite
question in our " Notes and Queries," and you will have no
difficulty in obtaining an answer.

Z. E. G.— Your mosses were named in last month's issue.

J. C. K. — The specimens attached to the Clematis branch
are not cocoons, but the female of a species of Coccus, or
" Scale insect," which has been introduced into this country.
Like the Cochineal insect, the body of the female becomes the
shelter for the young, the mother dying to provide them
with this protection. The eggs may be seen underneath the
scale.

Thomas Ro.mans.— The fungus on the leaves of Ragsvort
is an JEcidiuin. See Cooke's " Microscopic Fungi," coloured
illustrations. London : Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly.

Anony.mous — We beg to draw the attention of several of
our correspondents to our rule of not answering questions
unless accompanied by the real name and address.

EXCHANGES.

Notice.— Only one " Exchange'' can be inserted at a time
by the same individual. The maximum length (except for
correspondents not residing in Great Britain) is three lines.
Only olijects of Natural History permitted. Notices must be
legibly written, in full, as intended to be inserted.

Strombus, Cyprrea, and other foreign shells, for British
Marine shells. — A. W. Langdon, Llanrvvst House, Hastings.

Living Dytiscus or Co/ymbetes offered for slide of clean dia-
toms.— H. E. Freeman, 1, Rose Villas, Wood Green.

For palate of Cyclostoma elegans send stamped and directed
envelope to J. H. Martin, 8(3, Week Street, Maidstone.

Eggs of Red-footed Falcon, Grasshopper Warbler, Scoter,
Crested Grebe, Eared Grebe, Sclavoniaii Grebe, Pintail, Long-
tail, Scaup, and Eider Ducks, Sandwich Tern, &c.,for others.
T. H. Phuler, Vale Royal, Northwich, Cheshire.

A vvell-.aiountei) Tongue of Bee, for Diatoms from Guano,
mounted and named.— H. B. Thomas, 13, Market-place,
Boston.

, Will A, C. A., Post Office, Staines, kindly send a list of his
duplicate eggs to T. H. Phuler, Vale Royal, Northwich,
Cheshire }

For F lustra foliacea send stamped directed envelope to P.
Smith, Legh Street, Warrington.

For GempWariVi /or!c«/o/a send stamped envelope and ob-
ject to Miss E. de B. Meyrick, Downshire Lodge, Blessington,
Co. Wicklow, Ireland.

CvcLOSTo.-MA elegans and Helix Pomatia in exchange for
other English shells, — B. F. Buxton, Easneye, Ware.

For exchange or otherwise, an excellent English J-in, object-
glass of 120 degrees angular aperture, in perfect condition. —
Apply to the Rev. J. Bramhall, St. John's Vicarage, near
Lynn, Norfolk.

Vallisneria, Frog-bit, Lemna frisulca, Drosera, Chelifers
or Petrobii, for marine or fossil diatom material. — J. G. R.
Powell, Matlock Bridge.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

" The Stone Age in New Jersey." By C. C. Abbott, M.D.

'• Report of the Entomologicid Society of tlie Province of
Ontario " for 1871.

"The American Naturalist," May.

" Hypotheses." By F. J. Finois,

"The Canadian Entomologist." No. 5.

" Land and Water."

" Les Mondes ''

" The Insect World." By Louis Figuier. New Edition,
revised. London : Cassell, Petter, and Galpin.

" Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalist's
Society," 1871-72.

Co.MMUNICATIONS RECEIVED FRO.M F. K. — F. P.— C. J. L. —

J.H. G. (M.D.)-G. E. X.-T. S.— W. H, P.— T. L— S.A. B,—
W. E. S.-T. C. O.— W. H. G.— J. G, R. P.— J. B.— A. W. L.
—J. H. M.— H. E. F.— W. S.-T. H.P.— H.B.T.— E. D. 1!. M.

— B. F. B.-R. H. A,— Dr. H. F. P.— J. R. D.-E. J. T.—
C. A. R.— E. W.— J. R. S. C— C. L. W.— R. H— J. G.— J. T.

— H.-Dr. C. C. A.— J. D. L. T.— J. R. J.— F. B. B.— G. H. H.
— M. A, D.— C. A. R,— R. H. W.— J. H. C. C. S.— G. O. H.—
H. E. B.

HARDWICKE'S SC lEN CE-GOS S I P.

169

COLLECTING AND PEESEEVING.

No. YII— SEAWEEDS.
By ^\ . IT. GnATTAXX,

N a former article
published in
Science - Gossip
a iew years ago,
I gave some di-
rections for col-
lecting and pre-
serving Marine
Algse, or seaweeds, and
although, I think, it would
be difficult to simplify those
directions, or even to add
much that would be really
serviceable to young begin-
ners in this delightful pur-
suit, it is my intention, in
going over the ground once
more, to be as explicit as I
possibly can ; and here, on
the threshold of the subject,
I have a few words to say to
one or two occasional contributors to this journal,
who, in calling attention to the beauty of mai'ine
vegetation, and urging young persons to collect and
preserve Algse, have advised them to ignore books on
the subject, and to go to the shore, use their own
eyes, and collect for themselves, &c. I am sorry very
greatly to differ with such advice. Collecting in
this way may be amusing enough to those who care
not for science, but when it leads to parcels of sea-
weeds, picked up at random, being sent to botanists
with a request that the names of such plants should
be sent to the writer, it is the reverse of pleasure
to the scientific botanist, for it gives him infinite
trouble, and enables him to convey but very imper-
fect information to his applicant. The editor of
this journal has often been thus appealed to, and
packages of decayed rubbish have frequently been
sent to me for examination, containing species, or
No. 92.

rather fragments of plants, which for the most part,
were utterly worthless and defied identification.

Almostall collectors commence by mounting plants
which a little experience proves to be really what
the old poet termed " (/Iga projeda vilior" ; but as
sfeaweed-gathering, like everything else, requires
practice, beginners must not be disappointed
because they do not find rarities or fine specimens
whenever and wherever they may seek for them.

When I think of the ditficullies I experienced at
the outset of my study of marine botany, especially
in the collecting and drying of seaweeds, I feel
strongly inclined to urge all beginners to obtain
some information concerning Marine Algae before
they go to the shore to collect for themselves. A
very few hours of study with an experienced algolo-
gist, or even a perusal of some illustrated work on
British algte, will save much trouble and materially
assist the unpractised eye in selecting specimens
for the herbarium. I may here mention as highly
useful to incipient algologists Dr. Landsborough's
"British Seaweeds," and Professor Harvey's
" Manual," either of which may be obtained for a few
shillings; but if my readers are resident in Loudon,
I advise them to pay a few visits to the Library of
the British Museum, and there inspect Dr. Harvey's
" Phycologia Britannica." In this magnificent
work they will find coloured figures of nearly every
British seaweed, with drawings from magnified
portions, and various structural details of the
highest value to students'; and I once more impress
on all collectors the importance of some degree o f
book-learning ere they sally forth, bag or vasculum
in hand, to cull the lovely " flowers of the ocean,"
or gather what best may please them from the
rejectamenta on the shore.

■ If the collector wishes to learn, not merely the
names of plants, but to distinguish species, he will do
well to provide himself with a copy of Harvey's

I

170

HARUWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

little volume the "Synopsis of British Seaweeds,"
and a Stanhope or Coddington lens, by means
of which he can examine portions of delicate plants
as he finds them, and compare them with the
descriptions given in the " Synopsis"; in this way,
if he have any success during his excursions, he
will quickly become familiar with most of the
plants which are cast ashore or grow within tide-
marks.

Time will not admit of, neither is space in this
iournal available for, a single line beyond what may
be practically serviceable to my youthful readers ;
therefore I will hasten to describe the course
of action in seaweed-collecting as I have practised
it for mauy years. At once, then, to the shore, but
not to the sandy shore, for only useless decayed
rubbish, or here and there some straggling plants
of Zostera marina, or grass-wrack, will be met with
there. The collector must away to the rocks, and
search carefully every pool he meets with, from a
little distance below high-water mark, and so on
down to the water's edge, always remembering that
it is better to collect while the tide is receding than
as it is coming in.

Presuming that few persons will think of collect-
ing seaweeds much earlier than the month of May,
let me observe that most of the accessible species
of olive and green plants which grow on rocky
shores and in tide-pools, will be found from May to
Juue in pretty fair condition, but very few red
plants, except those which grow on the shady sides
of rock-pools, or under the shelter [of the larger
oliv'e weeds, will be met with untU a considerable
space is laid bare by the receding water at the low
spring tides, about a day or two before and after the
full moon.

As nearly all the rare red weeds grow in deep
water, they are seldom taken in any degree of per-
fection unless they are dredged ; but in the summer
months, say from June to the end of August, many
Hue plants are occasionally thrown up from deep
water, and others are found growing on the stems
of the great Oar-weeds, portions of which are cast
ashore, beautifully fringed with one or more species
of Delesseria and other rare Rhodosperms — in fact,
during the rising tide, diligent collectors may se-
cure many a lovely deep-water plant as it comes
floating in, but which, if allowed to remain long ex-
posed to the action of sunlight, will fade in colour
and decompose before it can be mounted. This is
especially the case with all the soft gelatinous red
plants, such as the Callithamnia, and all the Gloio-
cladia;, as well as a few of the softer olive weeds ;
and here I may observe that there is one genus of
beautiful olive plants, the Sporochnacece, which must
on no account be put into the vasculum with any of
the delicate red plants, for they not only very
rapidly decompose, but injure almost all others
with which they are placed in contact. The species

are not numerous, and they may jbe easily recog-
nized, after having been previously studied from the
coloured figures either in Harvey's " Phycologia,"
or in Bradbury & Evans's "Nature-printed Sea-
weeds." It is also a" curious fact respecting this
genus, that while they are all of a beautiful olive
tint in the growing state, they invariably change to
a fine verdigris-green in drying ; and indeed this is
very generally the case with the filamentous olive
weeds, the Euci, or common rock-weeds, as con-
stantly turning quite black after mounting : whence
the term, that of "Melanosperm," which is given
to the subdivision to which all the olive weeds
belong.

As there are so few seaweeds which have gene-
rally known common names, I shall make no apology
for using the names by which they are knovni to
Science, presuming that all intending collectors
will, as I have already suggested, gain some know-
ledge of Terminology ere they go out "seaweeding."

Beginners should be cautioned against the very
natural error of bringing home too mauy plants at a
time ; they must be moderate in their gatherings,
or be content to risk the loss of some choice speci-
mens, which will decompose unless they are attended
to before night. The first thing to be done upon
arriving at home, is to empty the collecting-bag
into a white basin of sea-water, and to select the
best and cleanest plants as soon as possible, giving
each a good swill before placing it in another vessel
of clean water, and getting rid of rejected plants at
once, so that the basin first used will be available
for rewashing the weeds before they are severally
placed in the mounting-dish. When a day is fixed
on for seaweeding, the collector should order a
large bucket of clean sea-water, which, after being
left to settle, should be strained through a towel, so
as to be as free as possible from sand and dirt. Two"
or three large pie-dishes will be necessary, the
deeper the better, and white, if such can be ob-
tained. Place these on a separate table with towels
under them, and reserve a table specially for the
mounting-dish and the parcels of papers, calicoes,
and blotting-papers. The large white bath used in
photography ^is very well adapted for mounting
seaweeds ; the lip at one coruer is convenient for
pouring off soiled water, and its form— that of an
oblong— is most suitable for receiving the papers on
which the plants are to be mounted.. Beside this
vessel should be placed the following implements :—
A porcupine-quill, two camel-hair pencils, one
small, the other large and flat, a pair of strong brass
forceps, a penknife, a pair of scissors, a small
sponge, an ivory paper-knife, and two thin plates of
perforated zinc, somewhat less in length and breadth
than the inside of the mounting-dish.

Smooth drawing-paper, or fine white cartridge-
paper, is generally employed for mounting. The
operator should be provided with three different

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

171

sizes of paper, and these should have each a piece
of very fine calico and four pieces of blotting-paper
to correspond. The process of mounting one of the
filamentous or branching species is as follows : —
The specimen being cleaned and placed in the
mounting-dish, a piece of paper of suitable size is
laid on one of the perforated zinc plates, and both
are then slipped quickly under the floating weed.
The root or base of the specimen is then pressed
down on the paper with a finger of the left hand,
while the right hatid is employing [the forceps
or porcupine-quill in arranging the plant in as
natural a position as possible, ere the zinc plate is
gently and gradually raised at the top or bottom,
as may be necessary, to insure a perfect display of
every portion of the plant ; but if, upon drawing it
out of the water, it should present an unsightly ap-
pearance from too thick an overlapping of the
branches, the whole must be re-immersed, and a
little pruning of superfluous portions may be em-
ployed with advantage to the specimen and satis-
faction to the operator. Care should be taken that
the water be drained off the paper as completely as
possible before the calico is laid over the plant, and
this is accomplished by raising the paper containing
the plant as it still lies on the zinc plate, and
transferring it to a thin board placed in an inclined
position against one of the basins, and with the
large camel-hair pencil paint off the water as it
runs away from the specimen, and absorb what re-
mains, when the paper is laid flat, with the sponge.
Delicate species may be left to drain for a few
minutes, while the operator is arranging other
specimens. When the water is sufficiently drained
off, the paper is then laid on the blotter, and the
piece of calico is placed upon the plant— a sheet of
blotter being laid upon the calico.

Care should be observed in subjecting plants to
pressure, which, in the first instance, should be
sufiicieut only to help the absorption of water. The
first set of blotting-papers should be changed in
half an hour after the whole batch of specimens
have been placed in the press, and these must be
thoroughly dried before they are used again. After
the second or third change of blotters, the plants
should remain under strong pressure for two or
three days ; but the pieces of calico must not be re-
moved until it is pretty certain that the papers and
plants are quite dry.

With the exception of the Euci or common rock-
weeds, I never place seaweeds in fresh water : with
these, especially Fuciis serratus, F. nodosus, F.
vesiculosus, and F. canaliadatus, a few hours'
immersion in fresh water is an advantage, as it
soaks the salt out of their fronds and renders them
more pHable. As all the Euci turn black in drying,
and few of them adhere well to paper, I arrange
my specimens in single layers between the folds of
a clean dry towel, and keep them under pressure

until they are quite dry ; they may then be put
away loosely, or gummed on sheets of paper.

The foregoing directions for mounting filamentous
seaweeds are applicable to all the branching species
of Olive, Red, and Green plants ; but in each of the
three subdivisions there are a few species which
are so gelatinous, — in fact, so soft and spongy, that
they require the utmost care during pressure, other-
wise they adhere to the calico and break off in
fragments as it is drawn away. Such plants must
be left to dry in a horizontal position for ah hour or
so before the calico and blotters are placed over
them, and pressure must be very slight until they
have adhered closely to the paper. Among the
Chlorosperms, or green plants, there are the various
species of Codium, young plants of which only are
manageable or indeed desirable. In the Melano-
sperms, some species of the genus Mesogloia will
require care and patience in mounting, as well as
the long string-like plant, known as Chorda filum ;
and again, the spreading tuberous mass called
Leathsia tuberiformis, portions of which should be
cut from the rock, the sand scraped and washed
out, then laid on the wet paper, and allowed to
shrink for some hours ere calico blotters and pres-
sure be applied. These difliculties are much more
numerous among the Rhodospcrms, or red sea-
weeds, experience only teaching the best method
of treatment. I will, however, mention the names
of some very troublesome plants, the fronds of
which, if subjected to pressure too soon, burst and
discharge their carmine contents ; not only pre-
senting an unsightly appearance, but destroying the
specimen. These are Griffithsla corallina, Dudres-
nala coccinea, Naccaria Wiggii, all the Chylocladia,
and the rare Gloiosiphoma, as well as the slimy
worm-like plant known as \Nemaleon multifidim.
In addition to these troubles among the red plants?,
there is an opposite difiiculty connected with several
Rhodospcrms which must be pointed out ; and that
is owing to an absence or scarcity of gelatine in
their substance, which is in some of a stout,
leathery, or horny nature, and in others is due to a
coating of carbonate of lime, which completely en-
velops the vegetable structure. Among the former
may be mentioned the several species of Phyllo-
phora, and several among the genera Gigartina,
Chondrus, and Sphserococcus ; and in the latter, all
the calcareous Algae, especially the well-known
Corallina officinalis and Jania nihens. All these,
and several others of a membraneous nature, among
the olive as well as the red weeds, must be first
mounted in the ordinaiy manner, and when they
are tolerably dry and begin to shrink away from
the paper, fill the mounting-dish with stale skimmed
milk; refloat the plants on their papers in the
milk, and indeed go through the same process as
before with the sea-water, but be careful to absorb
all the milk from off the surface of the plants and

i2

172

HAKDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

the back of the papers, and then, after the usua
time for drying and pressing, the most obstinate
seaweed will be found adhering perfectly to the
paper, and will remain so permanently.

One more difficulty must be referred to for the
benefit of young beginners, who, in mounting some
of the Larainaria and that peculiar olive weed
called Himanthalia lorea, may wish to preserve the
thick-branching roots and stems. Pirst wash the
roots as clean as possible, and then, with a sharp
penknife, make a clean cutting horizontally of the
whole root and some little distance up the thick
round stem ; then, after having removed the cut
portions, place the inner surface of the root and
stem on the paper, and the gelatinous matter which
oozes from the plant will cause the roots to adhere
firmly to the paper, and in drying, the usual olive
tint of the various species of Laminaria will be
finely preserved. Some botanists employ a mixture
made of isinglass, dissolved in alcohol, to fix some
of the horny or robust species on paper ; but if gum
is made use of, it is better to employ gum traga-
canth than gum - arable, because, in drying, the
former has none of that objectionable glare which is
peculiar to gum-arabic.

Fig. 109. Seaweed Press.

As regards the best method of pressing seaweeds,
I think I can hardly do better than refer my
readers to the above figure of a Seaweed Press,
which I invented for myself many years ago, in
which I have pressed many thousands of beautiful
seaweeds. Almost any degree of pressure can be
obtained in it : first, by the thumb-screws on the
iron rods at each corner, and, finally, by means of
the clatep which is strapped on the top of the
press. Any intelligent cabinet - maker or iron-

monger could provide such a press from an inspec-
tion of the figure, the cost, of course, varying with
the dimensions and the number of boards.

With respect to localities favourable to seaweed-
gathering, I may specially mention the south coast
of Devon ; from Exmouth, where Bnjopsis and
Padina pavoma grow in perfection, to Torquay and
the coves of Torbay, and down the coast to Ply-
mouth, Cawsand Bay, and finally Whitsand Bay,
the " happy hunting-grounds " of the enthusiastic
algologist. On the north-east coast, Filey and
Whitby must be mentioned, as well as the shores
upwards from Tynemouth to Whitley. Peterhead is
also a good locality, the rare Edocarpus Mertemii,
and Callithamnion jloccomm being found there in
abundance. Other favourable stations in Scotland,
well known to me, are Lamlash Bay and Whiting
Bay ; nor must the Isle of Wight be forgotten, for
in the rock pools, at Shanklin especially, the most
magnificent form of Padina pavonia may be found
growing during the summer months in the utmost
profusion.

In conclusion, I beg leave to say to those of my
readers who, in the pursuit of algological know-
ledge, may chance to find themselves in an unex-
pected difficulty, it will give me pleasure to afford
them information and any assistance in my power.

Templestowe, Torquay.

SKETCHES IN THE WEST OF IRELAND.

By G.VH. Kinaiian.

The Neighboukhood of Gokt.

G\ ORT is situated on a plateau of limestone,
^ bounded on the west by the hills of Burren,
and on the east by the mountain group called
Slieve-Aughta, the latter being composed of
Cambro-silurian rocks, capped in places by the
lower carboniferous conglomerate, grits, and sand-
stones (commonly called old red sandstone), forming
table-topped hills ; moreover, the latter rocks and
their accompanying shales are banked against
their flanks. The Cambro-silurian black shales at
Belvoir are remarkably rich in well-preserved grap-
tolites.

The limestone plain may be noted on account of
its system of subterranean rivers. A large infall
of water flows from Slieve-Aughta into loughs
Cooter and Coole, and the connection between the
latter and Galway Bay— a distance of five miles — to
the nearest point at Kinvarra, is underground ;
while over a large portion of the plain it is impos-
sible to say whether the drainage is south-west-
ward through the river Furgus to the Shannon, or
north-westward to Galway Bay.

The Lough Cooter catchment basin includes a
considerable portion of Slieve-Aughta, while from

HARUWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

173

the south eud of the lake flows the Beagh river,
having an overground course for about two miles,
when the stream disappears into the limestone rock
under a boulder-clay-drift cliff about 70 feet high,
the place locally being called "The Caldron."
From here the river course can be traced for nearly
a mile by breaks in the roof of the subterranean
passages, forming marked precipitous hollows, or
cavities, known as the "Devil's Punch-bowl,"
the "Blackweir," the " Ladle," and the " Churn,"
to " PoUduagh," a cave out of which the water
rushes to daylight.

From PoUduagh northward for about three
miles there is an open river to the ruins of Kil-
tartan Castle, where it again takes the ground ;
however, farther west, in Coole demesne, it appears
for a short distance, and eventually flows into Coole
Lough, having first mingled its waters with those
of another subterranean river that receives the
drainage of the northern portion of Slieve-Aughta.
From Coole Lough the waters flow underground
to Caherglassaun lake, and from thence to the sea
at Kinvarra, a large stream appearing through the
joints of the limestone in the vicinity of Dungorey
Castle.

Where the Beagh river takes the ground at " The
Caldron " it is yearly cutting into a high bank of
boulder-clay-drift that contains blocks and frag-
ments of sandstone and limestone, all of which dis-
appear. The latter may dissolve in the water and
thereby be carried off in solution, as the chert which
they contain forms an angular gravel in the bed of
the stream ; but the sandstone blocks could not be
similarly disposed of. Some of the latter, un-
doubted! j% are ground up ; for, when the stream is
in flood, and the waters, hurrying underground,
form a rushing gurgling whirlpool, the blocks can
be heard rolling about and grinding against one an-
other. This, however, can scarcely account for the
disappearance of all, as hundreds of them cotne
down each winter ; yet when the water is low during
the summer months, only a few of them are to be
seen ; therefore it only remains for them to be
carried underground. This, when the stream is
seen in its summer aspect, would appear impossible,
as the water flows on to a filter of blocks and
gravel ; but when the fioods arise, these gradually
get into motion, until at last all are being whirled
round and round, while some possibly find their
way into the vent and are carried away in the
stream. In favour of this theory it may be pointed
out that blocks of sandstone are found in the bed
of the subterranean stream at Pollduagli.

The exit of the river in the vicinity of Kiltartan
Castle is remarkable. It is evident that at former
periods the water flowed at two higher levels, but
in each case, as the subterranean passage increased,
they fell into disuse. The highest level is now
quite abandoned by this river, and a small stream

flowing southward into the river occupies it,
while the middle level is still used, but only in high
floods. If there is an over-supply of water, too
much for the lower embouchure, the water rises to
the second level, along which it flows to a cavity in
the roof of the under-passage, where it finds an
exit, and rushes down, forming a whirlpool ; thereby
proving that the internal capacity of the passage is
greater than its entrance.

In the country about Gort, as also in many other
limestone tracts in Ireland, at the ingress or egress
of the subterranean rivers, sheets of water may
form, that are locally called " Turloughs ;" or a
furlough may exist in a hollow under wnich there
is a snbterranean stream, the latter bursting up and
overflowing during freshets, forming a sheet of
water. Many of the small lakes hereabouts have
no surface-outlets, and although they do not become
dry in summer, yet are a variety of turlough, a good
example being the small lake called Lough Kinlea,
about six miles west of Lough Rea. The water in
this lake in dry weather lies at the bottom of a
deep cup-shaped hollow at least thirty feet
lower than the adjacent road, while in floods the
surface of the lake reaches or even overflows on to
the road ; but, on account of the steepness of the
sides of the hollow, the difference between the
area of the water in flood and drought is small.

A remarkable furlough is formed during floods
in connection with Coole Lough. During the dry
weather the drainage from all sides flows into the
lough ; but if a flood arises, the subterranean vents
arc insufficient to carry oif the waters ; consequently
tliey rise, fill the lough, and overflow to the south,
forming an extensive furlough in the hollow adjoin-
ing the Newcastle Racecourse. The extent and
sudden rise of the floods may be judged from the
following :— On the 12th October, 1852, a cricket-
match was played on the racecourse of Newcastle,
and in the adjacent streams there was scarcely any
water ; but in the succeeding week there was rain,
and on the 21st of the month the whole of it was
covered, in places being over twenty feet deep. The
area under water, including the flooded land about
Coole Lough, was at least 500 acres. It should,
however, be mentioned that this October was the
wettest of the seventeen years preceding, the rain-
fall being 7'61 inches, while the average was 4'03
inches, the other wet years being 1846, 1851, and
1853, whose figures respectively were 6"85, 5"35,
and 572 inches by the Rev. C. Mayne's rain-
gauge at Killaloe ; the rainfall of October, 1SG2,
being nearly twice the average of the preceding
seventeen years.

Some of the low-situated lakes and turloughs
are afi'ected by the rise and fall of the tide, the
rising of the tide damming up the subterranean
egress of the fresh water, causing the latter to rise
in the lakes or turloughs. In some of these during

174

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

floods the rise and fall, from the extent of the wa-
ter being only a few inches, is nearly imperceptible;
but when the lakes are low the rise and fall is as
apparent as that of the tides in Galway Bay.
This phenomenon can be well observed in the
" Slug!?aghs " in the vicinity of the mine on the
west of Caherglassaun Loush, and at Hawkhill
Lough, between three and fo '■ miles west of Gort.
There are various ruins in i he vicinity of Gort,
that woidd more or less interest the archffiologist ;
but special attention must be directed to the old
castle a mile S.W. of Lough Cooter, the walls of
which were paiuted in fresco," some of which still
remain. The flora also is interesting; as, however,
nearly all the rare plants are found in the Burreu,
one description hereafter will do for all.

TEMPORAEY APPEARANCES AND
DISAPPEARANCES OF PLANTS.

TTAVING read with much interest the paper by
-"-■- Mr. Edwin Lees in the April number of
Science-Gossip, " On changes in the localities of
some of our rarer plants," I am induced to offer a
few notes on some instances of the temporary dis-
appearance of species which I have noticed in tliis
neighbourhood, with the flora of which I have been
acquainted for more than a dozen years.

Erodium moschatum used to'*grow on an old wall
within one hundred yards of where I am now
writing : it was observed there by my father nearly
thirty years ago. This is the only place in which I
have ever found it, and I have observed it there
now and then for many years ; but some seasons I
have failed to find it after a careful search. lu 1868
the wall was pulled down, but the Cranesbill was
very plentiful around its site, and, the soil being
rich, attained an immense size. The next two
summers it grew scarcer, and this year I can find
no trace of it.

In 18G2 a heap of sand was thrown up out of a
quarry in Beckington, which in the summer was
covered with a scarlet blaze of poppies ; among
them two or three plants of P. Argemone, a species
which I had never seen in the neighbourhood
before, and did not see again, although 1 looked for
it in the same place nearly every year, until 1868,
Avhen I found it there again, and I have found it in
each succeeding year.

The only_ station for Atropa Belladonna near here
is Earleigh, Hungcrford, where a single plant grew
among the ruins of an old castle for many years ; but
the station being unfortunately too well known to
collectors, it grew smaller year by year, until in

1869, finding none left, I feared that it was lost. In

1870, however, I noticed one or two young plants
on a bank some little distance off, which are now
growing nicely, and will, I hope, establish the spe-

cies firmly, if not pursued by collectors with too
sedulous attention.

When a boy, I remember being shown by my
father in a field near Beckington, a plant of Lathyrus
Aphaca ; but this singular vetch I never saw agaia
until the year 1869, at least fifteen years afterwards,
when I found several plants of it growing in a
hedge that, I am in the habit of passing several times
a week. I refrained from gathering many speci-
mens of it, thinking that I would let it remain and
seed ; but next time I passed I was mortified to
find it all gone — some one having cut the grass on
the bank to give to his horse. In 1870 I did not
see any ; but last year it was growing there again.

I never saw Campatmla hyhrida nearer here than
the Wiltshire chalk downs, except in the year 1869,
when a wheat-field a mile off was quite full of it —
probably introduced with seed coim.

Many liliaceous and orchideous plants bloom
very seldom; consequently, if one of them grow
sparingly at a station, it may be missed for several
years, the root-leaves escaping notice, and yet
reappear. I have noticed this with Gagea lutea,
Fritillaria Meleagris, CepJialanthera grandiflora,
Epipactis lafifoUa, and others ; and hence I have not
quite abandoned all hope of meeting with Ophrys
muscifera and Tnlipa sylvesiris, each of which my
father has once found.

I have noticed that root parasites, such as
Lathr<sa squamaria, Monotropa Hypopilys, and
Neottia Nidus-avis are very uncertain in their ap-
pearance ; one may find them in this place one year,
and then lose siglit of them for several years, till
one finds them again in a different place.

Biennials also, as Verhascum Lychiiites and
Blattaria, I have failed to find sometimes in familiar
localities, owiug to there being no flowering plants
that year, the plants of the last year but one not
having been allowed to remain to seed.
W One sentence of Mr. Lees's I do not understand.
He says, "It is important to know whether a rare
plant has increased or diminished, as in the former
case its claims to be considered tridy indigenous are
belter founded." I should have thought that the
reverse was the case. The gradual extinction of
many of our rare Britisli plants, as Peucedanmn
officinale, Scnecio paludosus, Souchus paludris,
Menziesia ccerulea, and Cypripediuu Calceolus, is not
held to invalidate their claims to be considered
natives, nor does the rapid spread of Elodea cana-
densis, Veronica Buxhauinii, &c., establish their
titles to be indigenous.

H. FfiANKiiiN Parsons, M.D.

Beckington, Somerset.

"The little birds have neither storehouse nor
barn, yet He feedeth them ; and not one of them
falleth to the ground without His permission."—
'\Beautiful Birds in Far-off Lands."

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

175

ON THE COLOURS OF LEPIDOPTERA.

T>UTTERFLIES, bkds, and flowers are tlie
-*-^ poetry of uature. What would the world be
without their bright colours, sweet songs, and fra-
grant odours ? Every one with an eye for beauty is
charmed with the hues of the Lepidoptera. It is a
common error with the non-entomological to sup-
pose that bright colours are confined solely to the
Papilionidse. I have often enjoyed, when showing
my collection and have brought out the drawer con-
taining the Euchelidse and Chelonidse, to hear the
exclamation of surprise, " Those moths, I thou ght
they were butterflies, they are so pretty ! "

Of the effect of heat in intensifying colour, the
Cleopatra of Madeira, compared with our own
Q. Rhamni, affords a striking example, the orange
spots in the latter being suffused over a great por-
tion of the wings of the former. In early spring,
when the sun has but little power, the first butter-
flies we meet with are those with little or no colour ;
namely, the Whites. As the season advances the
tints become brighter, and whites with orange-
tipped wings (Cardamines) appear; but it is iu
summer and autumn, when the sun is in his might,
that the choicest and loveliest specimens of our
Lepidoptera are found. Then it is we look for Iris,
in his robe of purple ; Atalanta, iu her vivid scarlet,
approaching nearest to the glories of the tropics ;
lo, of softer, but not less exquisite beauty ; Edusa,
the Blues, the Golden Skippers, and Argynuidi.
Beautiful though the Papiliouida; of this country
may be, however, they are far excelled by exotic
insects. Here is a wealth of colour iu which the
eye can revel with delight. Many possess a metallic
lustre of which we have but one example — the
Coppers ; others, when in certain lights, or held in
certain positions, change their colours very remark-
ably, no doubt owing to scales of different shades
being placed transversely, like the threads in shot
silks.

It is somewhat curious that blue, though of such
frequent occurrence in buttterflies, is entirely absent
iu the Heterocera ; the band on the hind wings of
C. Fraxini — in reality a French grey — being the
closest approximation ; while the crimson prevail-
ing so much among moths is wanting in butterflies.
Again, it is noticeable that the bright colours of
moths — and many of them are not surpassed by
butterflies, witness the Tigers, Cinnabar, and Cato-
calidse, — are confined to the hind wings, the upper
being of sober hues, or at least only streaked and
flecked with the bright tints of the lower. When
settled, the hind wings of moths are always hidden
from view. May not this be taken as another
instance of the wisdom and care of the great
Creator for the meanest and feeblest of his crea-
tures ? It is indubitably a means of protection,

by which, being rendered less conspicuous objects,
they are enabled to elude the vigilance of many a
hungry bird. Joseph Andekson, Jui?.

COLLECTION CATALOGUES.

■jy/TR. F. T. MOTT, in Science-Gossip for May,
-^'-■- asks for information as to the best means to form
a catalogue of a collection of 2,000 objects in such
a manner that additions may be constantly made to
it without leading to confusion. I have adopted a
plan of my own, which I have found very useful,
especially for indexing, and which I think may also
answer Mr. Mott's purpose. I will give an exam-
ple how I proceed, when wishing to form an index
or other alphabetical list. While on the subject,
let me say that in my opinion the neglect of a good
index often deteriorates much the usefulness of a
great many most valuable works, and I sometimes,
for my own use, form an index to a book if I am
likely to have to refer to it often, whilst reading it.
Taking a sheet of ordinary ruled foolscap, at right
angles to the existing lines I rule others, and on
these the various entries are written. Close to the
edge of what would ordinarily be the front of the
paper, between the first twenty. six lines I set dowii
the letters of the alphabet, and then the sheet is
ready for use. Suppose, for example, it is the page
of Science-Gossip on which Mr. Mott's query
occurs that I wish to index. I begin by writing
under the letter S— Starling, The, 118 ; next under
C, Catalogues, Collection, 118; next under G, Gas-
light, Does G-L kill plants ? 118, and so on. Thus
several entries cau be placed on each line, and there
is only one page in use instead of, at least, twenty-
six as is ordinarily the case. Although very easy
to employ, the plan is difficult to explain. Perhaps
it V70uld be possible to set up an example in type.

» * * »

ft * * * *

A
Alio

B

C

D E

P

i
G H

!
I

n ate

Cata
r 117

logue's, Col
Elm, Para

leoti
site

on, 1

18

1

(
1

of, 10

8

i

Arb

utns.

Berr

ies of

113

Eagl
105

e,Go

Iden,

115

1

Cue

koo,

The,

* Ordinary lines.

t Extra lines.

If I wished to form an exact catalogue, for con-
stant reference, of so many as 2,000 or 3,000 objects,
I should then take a page for each letter, the leaves
being fastened together at one end. Although by

176

HARDWiCKE'S SCIENCE- GOSSIP.

this meaus twenty-six pages would be employed
instead of one, yet the subdivisions would be so
much smaller than by the usual method that the
extra labour would be fully compensated for. Thus
the heading for the first page would be aa, ab, ac,
ad, &c., and for the second ba, bb, be, bd, &c.
Notwithstanding some columns, such as bb, would,
most probably, not contain a single entry, yet I
should retain them, for the eye soon becomes
accustomed to the position of the column for each
letter, and knows at a glance the spot where the
entry should be made.

If you think this plan will help Mr. Mott and
others, I hope you will find room for it ; if not,
please consign it to the waste-paper basket.

Alex. E. Mtjrkay.

CARBONIFEROUS EISH.

A T the base of the coal-measures there occurs in
-^-^ Yorkshire a bed of coal which is different
from any of those above it. This bed — the Halifax
bed — is covered by a "roof" unlike that of any
other coal-bed above the mountain limestone, and
consisting of nodular concretions called "baum-
pots," which contain not only the remains of plants
and fresh-water shells, but also of fish and marine
shells. The floor or sill of the coal of this series, in-
stead of being, as in the other series, a peculiar fine
clay, full of stigmaria, consists of ganister or gal-
Uanl, a hard siliceous sandstone full of the roots
of plants. The presence of this stone consequently
furnishes an exact iudication of the position occu-
pied in the coal-measures of that stratum in which
it is found.

In the " baum-pots " before mentioned I dis-
covered last July, when staying in the neighbour-
liood of Leeds, several remains of fish, both scales
and teeth, belonging to Agassiz's two great orders
of fish, the Ganoids and Placoids.

The ganoid fish have been thus named by him
on account of their being covered by enamel
so hard that, if struck with steel, they will emit
sparks like flint ; thus differing from the fish belong-
ing to other orders. Another peculiarity attaching
to them is this, — the union of reptilian with fish-
like characters, they being able to move the head
upon the neck independently of the body, and the
connection of the vertebrae by ball-and-socket joint,
instead of by inverted cone, as in the ordinary
fishes.

The representatives of this order of fishes are the
Lepidosteous, or bony pike, and the Amia of North
America, the Folypterm of the Nile and rivers of
Senegal, and the Ceratodus of Australia. As all
these genera inhabit fresh water, analogy points to
the conclusion that their carboniferous ancestors
lived in the same element.

No doubt many of those who have found, the
teeth and scales of extinct ganoids have been puzzled
by not finding their entire skeletons. This is owing
to these fish not having possessed entire bony skele-
tons : consequently,' the cartilaginous portions of
the fish have perished, whilst the teeth and scales
have been preserved. In Megaliclithys, however.
Professor Huxley has discovered a ring or hoop of
bone in its vertebra, whilst the rest of its skeleton
consisted of cartilage.

Fig:. 110. Ganoid Scale of Megalic)ithys.

Of the scales of these fish examples are given
That of Megalichthys Hibberti (6g. 110) is of a
smooth rhomboidal form, with minute punctures
that are connected with one another by means of
canals.

The other scale, that of Acrolepis (figs. 111 and
112), is similar to the foregoing in shape, but differs
from it in having its surface marked by deep chan-
nels. The former genus is found only in the car-
boniferous system, whilst the latter is found both
in the carboniferous limestone of Derbyshire, the
millstone grit and coal-measures of Yorkshire
and in the Permian of Duihani.

Fig-s. Ill antl 112. .Scales o( Acrolepis.

The other great order of fishes, the Placoids,
represented in our time by the Sharks, Dogfish,
and Rays, have been so named by Professor Agassiz
because they have their skins covered irregularly
with plates of enamel, often of considerable dimen-
sions, but sometimes reduced to mere points, like
the shagreen on the skin of the Shark or the prickly
tubercles of the Ray. The fishes of this order had
cartilaginous skeletons, which were soon destroyed
after they had perished.

The teeth of these fish are of tico kinds, — either
sharp and pointed, or massive palatal teeth, fitted
for grinding. Of both these we have living ex-
amples ; those of the Shark being representative o f
tlie former, and those of the Cestracion, the Port
Jackson shark, of the latter.

5#^

Fig-. 1 13. Tooth of Cladodus. Fig. 114. Tooth of Orodtts

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

m

Of the former we have au example in the tooth
of Cladodus (fig. 113) : tliis is a sharp couical tooth
covered with shallow striations ; whilst of the
latter the teeth of Orochis (fig. 114) and Psammodus
are instances. The former presents a serrated edge,
whilst the latter is perfectly smooth.

Such are the characters of some of the fishes
which formerly roamed in the carboniferous seas.
Though but little is at present known of them, that
little is sufiicient to fill us with admiration of the
wisdom and power of Him who has created all
things. Rev. W. H. Painter.

HOW TO CUT VEGETABLE SECTIONS.

By Waltek White.

" "XTT"-^ want pretty and interesting objects."
' ' This is the cry, which waxes louder in
proportion as our ranks are augmented by the
enlistment of fresh recruits. Let me commend to
their notice sections of stems, leaves, seeds, and
other portions of plants. They are pretty, as well
as interesting ; easy to mount, and moreover, when
well mounted, very permanent. How to cut them
is the rub. This seems to be a great stumbling-
block; consequently we find very few amateurs'
cabinets containing a really good selection of vege-
table sections. One will tell you he hasn't time to
cut them ; another, that he has tried and failed ;

proverbial conquerors, of all difficulties, — namely,
patience and perseverance. Assuming the reader
to possess the two latter, I will proceed to put him
in the way to possess the former.

I first began to think of cutting sections on
September 1st, 1866, from seeing on that day, in
Science- Gossip, a description of an instrument
which I, in my innocence, then thought would
answer that purpose. How anxiously I tried shop
after shop before I could find the one where I could
invest my penny in a music-binder ! I need scarcely
say the affair was a failure. Some time afterwards
I got a watchmaker to cut me a screw, with which,
a fishing-rod ferule, and a bit of brass plate, 1
knocked up an uncouth-looking piece of apparatus,
which served my purpose pretty well for a long
time. Yet, as the screw was not so fine or so well
fitted as I could have liked, I cast about for a
friend to cut and fit me a better. After many in-
quiries, I came into contact with a gentleman who
very kindly recommended me to try wedges instead
of the long-sought micrometer-screw. I took my
nondescript to pieces, and in a very short time con-
verted it into a machine, which, for truthfulness,
simplicity of manners, and withal lightness of figure
(in the cost thereof), leaves little or nothing to be
desired. Here is an outline sketch of the appa-
ratus, fig. 115 ; here also is the receipt for making
it. Take a brass tube (fishing-rod ferule), T, about

0

1 0

of an inch diam., and

Ih in,

long; inside of this

T

^

s

P

3

Fig. 115. Diagram of Section cutting Machine. Scale i.

while a third has heard so much of the diflaculty of
section-cutting from those who have attempted it,
that he thought it useless to go to the expense of a
machine. Now, I hold that everybody who takes
up the study of Microscopy ought early to learn
how to make a good microscopic section. In His-
tology this acquisition is indispensable. As a
means of mastering the art, nothing can be better
practice than" operating on the subjects before-
mentioned. There is no royal road to section-
cutting, any more than there is to other branches
of Microscopy; yet a few practical hints may
smooth the path a little, and tempt a few to turn
some of their leisure moments in that direction.

The first thing necessary is a section-machine ;
the second, a sharp-cutting instrument. Besides

tube fit a brass plug (P) of the same length. When
smeared with tallow, this should fit the tube with a
water-tight joint. Solder one end of the tube (T)
into a hole that will just receive it, in the centre of
a brass plate (X) 3 in. x 1| in.,
and about ^-in. in thickness,
having a hole at each corner to
pin or screw it down' to the
block (B). This is the metallic
portion, which any country
tinker can easily make. The
wooden portion can just as
easily be made by any coun-
try carpenter — W, W, two
wedges, each 15 in. long, i in. thick, and 1 in. deep
at the base of angle. They should be worked up

Fig. 116.
Section of ditto.

these, two other things are also needed— those two true out of a thoroughly sound piece of beech or

178

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE-GO S S IP.

mahogany. Cut two other wedges of the same
angle, but rather longer, k in- thick, and attach one
to each side of the wedge, which is to be stationary,
so as to form a groove to steady the loose wedge.
This grooved wedge fix to a deal board (D),
15 X 34 by screws (S). Now comes the block (B)
of beech or mahogany, 2S x 3 x IJ. Through the
centre of its longest axis drill a hole to receive the
tube (T). Below the tube, and through its shortest
axis, sufficient of the block is to be cut away as
will span the fixed wedge. The block is firmly
fixed by long and stout screws to the board D, in
the position shown in the figure. The tube T is
now inserted in the hole, and the brass plate (which
I omitted to say should be perfectly flat and
smooth) is screwed or pinned down to the block.
On the face of the lower wedge gum a piece of
paper, with lines ruled on it about 3^0 of an inch
apart, and the machine is complete.

The best cutting instrument, in my humble
opinion, is a razor. A small one, made of " good
stuff," should be selected. If the blade is fixed in
a small bradawl handle, it will; be more convenient
to use. As it is perfectly useless attempting to
excel in section-cutting with a tool that will not
stand the usual test of cutting a hair, the reader, if
he be not endowed with the accomplishment of
razor -sharpening, had better make friends with
some one who really is, and take a practical lesson
or two.

Supposing the reader wish to try his 'prentice
hand upon a wood stem (transversely), this is the
way to proceed : — Get a cork and trim up so as to
fit the tube rather tightly ; with a cork-cutter make
a hole through it in the position shown at a, in
fig. 116, which should be the least trifle less in dia-
meter than that of the stem. Next divide the cork
lengthwise at b, taking care to escape the hole.
Cut out the shaded portion (C), which is to be re-
placed by an exact counterpart of deal. Cut off an
inch of the stem and place in the hole (a) ; put the
pieces of cork and deal in their places, and push all
gradually down the tube, with C towards the
operator, the plug (p) resting on the thin end of
the loose wedge. Have at hand a glass vessel of
methylated spirit, and all is ready for work. Tap
the wedge with the back of the razor till the stem
just appears above the plate ; then dip the razor in
the spirit and take off a slice, cutting no^further
into the deal than is necessary. Cut off a few more
slices, till you begin to feel used to it ; then strop
the razor' afresh and see how thin and perfect a
section is to be obtained, making use of the ruled
lines as a guide for the distance the wedge has to
be forced. An herbaceous stem will not require
tlie cork and deal packing. Strips of the same stem
will answer better, care being taken to pack firmly
without crushing. Leaves will generally be placed
between the two halves of a cork cut lengthwise ;

while seeds and other small things, such as unripe
moss capsules, are best held in a mixture of wax
and spermaceti. This is the mod/is operandi : Pour
into the tube, in a molten state, a mixture of about
equal parts bees-wax and spermaceti, and just
before it solidifies place the seed in the mixture, in
the desired position. When quite cold, the wax
will fit the tube loosely: a thin splinter of deal
forced down the tube will make it firm. This is
also one of the best plans for vertical sections of
stems.

Some recommend cutting towards, and others
away from, the operator. I prefer tlie former
method. Keep the razor well wetted ; hold it firm
and cut steadily, using plenty of the edge. The
sections will generally stick to the razor, and can
be shaken off into the spirit as fast as they are cut,
thus keeping the razor constantly wet with the
least amount of trouble. No rule can be given as to
the thickness the sections ought to be cut ; it de-
pends upon the size of the cells to be brought into
view. The smaller the cells the thinner the section,
and vice versa. A good transverse section should
show the pith, wood, and bark all tlie way through,
without a flaw. Wood stems should be gathered
in the autumn, and placed immediately into spirit.
They are never scarcely so good if allowed to dry.
A good plan for identifying the stems after they
have been soaked, is to cut on one end a Roman
mimeral, against which in a book the name is
placed. Without some precaution of the sort, it
may be rather embarrassing to a beginner to know
which is which, out of a bottleful of stems that have
lain by for some time.

Herbaceous stems should be cut as fresh as
possible, and the sections allowed to remain iu
spirit a day or two, to empty the cells of chloro-
phyl, after which they sliould be well washed iu
clean water. Seeds are in the best condition for
cutting just as they are ripening.

I have but little to say about the mounting. For
transparent slides, perhaps there is no better plan
of mounting the wood and seed sections than iu
balsam or damar. Some of the transverse wood
sections, — for example. Clematis and young stem of
Dog-rose, when mounted dry and revived \)y re-
flected light, are exceedingly beautiful, especially if
a bright blue ground be used. Sections of her-
baceous stems and the softer tissues of vegetables
show best in fluid. To some of the thousands of
ardent lovers of Nature, subscribers to Science-
Gossip, I would fain believe my simple section-
machine will be welcome. Every botanist now has
a microscope; yet how few, amongst their collection
of slides, can show a dozen good sections of their
own preparing, illustrative of the physiology of the
plants they take such pains to collect, dry, and
classify. In their case, a little practice at section-
cutting would throw open new sources of pleasure.

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

179

increasing the interest already attached to the
beautiful study of botany, and adding yet deeper
feelings of reverence towards the great Creator.

THE CRAB A GEOLOGIST.

THE following notice of a natural phenomenon
which I witnessed may be of interest to
readers of Science-Gossip :—

As I was walking with a friend, some ten years
ago, along the sandy shore of the Tenasseriin coast,
I was surprised to see in one place a large number
of apparently rolled pebbles or stones extending
along the beach for some distance, just above high-
water mark. The reason for my surprise was that
such a thing as a pebbly beach is nowhere met with
(at far as my experience goes) on this coast. The
entire coast-line of Tenasserim, from Amherst on the
north to the Packchanriver on.the south, consists
of alternating'bold granite bluffs, which jut out into
the sea, and semicircular sandy bays, with here and
there an extensive mud-flat and mangrove swamp
at the mouths of creeks and rivers. It is very hard
to find a stone anywhere on any of the sandy
beaches. Granite iDOulders of various sizes are
frequently met with on the sand, but that is all.
The very unusual appearance, therefore, of a num-
ber of stones, resembling shingle, collected together
in one place, surprised me.

After my companion and I had amused ourselves
with throwing about some of these stones, which
were so hard as to have required a hammer to break
them, we found that others (those nearest to the
sea) were soft— of a firm cheesy consistency — so
that the end of a walking-stick could be forced into
or through [them. This naturally increased our
surprise ; we therefore set ourselves to discover, if
possible, the cause of this strange phenomenon. We
werevnot long in doing this. The actual process of
manufacture was witnessed. It may be stated here
that the part of the coast spoken of is not far from
the mouth of the Tavoy river, which expands into a
broad estuary several miles across. This river
carries down towards the sea a vast quantity of
mud, the greater part of which is distributed along
the coast-bottom to the south, owing to the direc-
tion of the river, which flows from north to south,
the run of the coast-line being the same. At
Mergui, also, only sixty miles to the south, another
arge river, the Tenasserim, pours down its quota of
mud, and this also is coniined near the coast by the
islands of the Mergui Archipelago, which stretch
from near the mouth of the Tavoy river on the
north, to near Junk-Selung on the south. I have
dredged the bottom at intervals between Tavoy and
Mergui, and found it to be mud the whole way
inside the islands.

The consequence of this 'is, that although some of

the reaches of sand on this part of the coast are
very fine, the sand is, nevertheless, comparatively
shallow, and it fines off rapidly to seaward, until, a
little way out, pure mud is reached. In some parts,
at low water, a very thin layer of sand covers the
mud below. This mud is exceedingly stifi", and of
the colour of the well-known blue lias. To come
now to the manufacture of these stones. The
crabs, which abound on tropical seashores, were here,
although too small to be worth catching for the pot,
considerably larger than I had seen in similar situa-
tions elsewhere ; and, as the tide was low, we saw
numbers of them running about the wet sands, and,
as we approached them, they would dive rapidly
down into the small round holes which it is their
habit to burrow for themselves. In making these
holes the crabs (as is, no doubt, known to many)
throw out the soil in small round pellets or
balls. I had frequently noticed at Amherst the
tiny round balls of sand strewed about the holes
which the smaller crabs there make. When the
ejected material is sand,'. these balls are, of course, at
once dissolved at return of each tide. But here, as
the sand was only in a superficial layer, and the
crabs were larger, in making their holes they pene- ■
trated through the sand and reached the mud ; con-
sequently the material thrown up was stiff clay, and
the balls were larger in proportion to the size of
the workers. Looking at these balls of clay as the
tide was turning to flood, we soon perceived how
our stones were made. The ripple of an advancing
wave would first roll two of the smaller balls into
one, then another wave would do the same^with
two larger ones, until, by a repetition of this very
simple process, rounded balls of various sizes were
formed, and ultimately, as the tide advanced, flung
up high and dry upon the sand, out of the farther
reach of the waves. Here they lay and hardened,
until, in form, in weight, and in general appearance,
they resembled bond-fide water-worn fragments of
blue lias. There was a long line of these stones
on the sand just above high-water mark, and they
must have been numbered by thousands.

And, now, to offer a remark or two on this sub-
ject. It is easy to imagine that these stones, so
strangely originated, may, at some distant day, be
imbedded in a stratum of sandstone, and may, per-
adventure, form the subject of investigation by some
future geologist (supposing, that is, the race o
geologists to bel as enduring as the strata which
they make their study), and if so, they would pro-
bably be pronounced to be genuine waterworu frag-
ments of rock older than the sandstone in which
they were found imbedded. In this instance, our
imaginary geologist will have been mistaken ; for
though indeed formed partly by the action of water
on a seashore, they were so formed by a constructive,
and not a destructive, process ; and, moreover, they
would be of exactly the same age as the sandstone.

180

HARDV.'ICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

But, if stones are being occasionally formed now
by the singular method above described, why may
they not have also sometimes been formed in a
similar manner in the remote ages of the Past ? It
crabs, as is likely, inhabited primeval seashores and
disported themselves upon them as they do now (1
am, unfortunately, not geologist enough to know it
there be any evidence to this point), then the same
agency may have been at work in the formation of
similar stones now found imbedded in existing
strata, and pronounced to be waterworu pebbles of
an older rock; and then also, some stones, so pro-
nounced upon, may possibhj iiave had a different
origin from that which has been assigned to them.
In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred probably, the
commonly assigned cause would be the true one ;
but the little fact which I have related points to
the possibility of rounded stones imbedded in
ancient strata having sometimes had a different
origin. I think it is also possible to conceive an
instance in which the position of such stones rela-
tively to contiguous beds, not easily explained on
the usual supposition of their being waterworu
fragments, might be accounted for by assigning to
tliem an origin similar to that of the stones which
I saw in the course of formation on the coast of
Tenasserim.

Possibly, however, I have only been describing
what has frequently been noticed before; though,
if not — if what I have related should chance to be
new — this trifling record may prove of interest, as
indicating a plan of operation in Nature's great and
n.iultifarious workshop, which, I venture to think,
would hardly be guessed at even by the most in-
genious theorist. C. S. P. Pauisii.

THE EUPLECTELLA.

"VTOUR article on the Glass-rope Sponge {llyalo-
-^ nema mirahills of Gray), and the figure on
p. 3G, in the February number for 1872, called to
my remembrance the account given me many years
since by Mr. John Reeves, of Clapham, of the
specimen of Glass-rope then in the East-India
Company's museum. He stated that the specimen
was the remnant of a stem of a Gorgonia, after
maceration in acid by the natives of some island
or coast in the Indian Ocean. When I fu'st saw
Evpledella speciosa, and observed the beard at its
base, I was led to the conclusion that this was also
a preparation from a spongoid animal, bleached
probably by immersion in water, during which pro-
cess the ova of crabs had passed through the
meshes, and became slowly the mature animals
that one sees inside Eupleetella. Lately, in looking
through Esper's work on corals, to find a figure of
that cural-like Gorgonia of which Mr. Reeves had
spoken, I was arrested by the plate in] vol. iv.,

No. XVI., of which I enclose a copy. There I
found a Eupleetella attached to a shell, and having
its spongy coat on ; while below was an enlarged
figure of the natural appearance of the coat. Being
in London lately, I visited the British Museum for
the purpose of examining the specimen from Mr.
Broderip's collection, which has the gelatinous coat

Fig. 117. Tululiria clatliruta.

still adhering to its cap ; but the Museum was
shut, the day being a holidaj^ and I failed in ob-
taining a private view, as in good old times it was
the custom to allow. The figure given by Esper,
however, is sufliciently marked to prove the original
state of Eupleetella ; and his description, which I
will quote, proves that his figure is no exaggeration.
The translation from the German is as correct as I
can make it.

Fig. 118. Portion of ditto, magnified. . .

"Net-shaped Tubularia. — In this sea-product,
the organic construction of the animal is not suffi-
cient to decide the way of growth and vessels of
nourishment. The net-formed cavities come nearer
the sponges ; but it has a shining substance, and
softens in water, and the web of this is of quite
different construction. It consists partly of strong
threads, partly of leafy gills. It cannot be the
dwelling of some foreign animal, for it is locked at
the largest end.

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

181

" This product was found in the seas by Bengal,
aud ^vas given to me, as a rarity, by the Lite
Reverend Chemuiter, who had it of Mr. Missionary
John, of Tranquebar."

Esper gives, in Plate XIX. of the fourth vokime
of the same work, the figure of a group of another
Tubularia, which he names T. hotryoides (" grape-
shaped Tubularia"), and states that in structure
it is akin to T. clathrata. " The colour," he adds,
" was at first yellow, but faded into light yellow,
and, according to others, into white-grey."

He had received this also from Mr. Missionary
John, of Tranquebar, as a very rare product from
the coast of the Carnatic.

Rev. Gekard Smith.

THE WHITE WHELK.

{Buccinum nndatum^

rilHERE are few univalve shells better known 1 han
-■- this. Our readers who have visited the East-
end of London must have seen both the shells and
their builders exposed for sale, the latter hanging out
with a yellow-looking, leathery appearance, which
does not tempt the palate of the novice. Our
British liking for the Whelk is peculiar, and does
not seem to be shared by any other nation. How
far we are consumers of it is indicated by the
evidence on the Whitstable Oyster-fishery Extension
Bill in 1866, when it was stated that the whelk
fishery on a sandy flat in that bay yielded twelve
thousand sterling a year !

has survived have been numerous and extensive
but they have failed to render it extinct, probably
owing to the ready manner with which it seems to
adapt itself to varying conditions. It is a known
zoological rule that a species numerous in indi-
viduals is generally also productive of varieties.
Mr. Gwyn Jeffries enumerates six distinct varie-
ties of the "White Whelk," besides others less so.
Tiiat some of these varieties are permanent is
evident from their having been also found in post-
glacial deposits. Moreover, the Whelk inhabits all
kinds of marine ground, from the shore to the
greatest known depth. Much as it seems to dislike
fresh water, it has nevertheless established itself
along the mouths of rivers. All these conditions
point to a great antiquity to allow the species to
gain a footing and to assume distinct and perma-
nent varietal characters. This we should have
reasoned to, if the shells of the Whelk were not found
in pre-glacial beds. The genus Buccinum has a
still higher antiquity, dating back from the Lower
Cretaceous epoch. Dr. Woodward enumerates
about twenty recent typical species, which are
chiefly to be found in northern and antarctic
regions. This wide isolation of areas is significant.
No one would contend for two generic creations
to have occurred in seas so widely separated ; — if
not, then the Buccinum must have been driven
away from the intervening regions ; and such a
process would take up all the time which has
elapsed since the Cretaceous period. More than
one hundred aud thirty species are known in the
fossil state.

Fig. Up. Bucchiitm undutum.

The "White Whelk" is popularly distinguished
from the "Red Whelk" {Fusus a?iiiquus) hj the
colour of the latter, although science distinguishes
them by more technical distinctions. No one can
mistake its vertically furrowed and grooved exterior,
its short canal, and, except when covered by its
epidermis, its whitish appearance (fig. 119). It has
a very respectable antiquity also, dating back from
early Pliocene times. The physical disturbances it

r.!i Eg-g cpses of Diicclnum undatum.

Tlie " White Whelk" is greedily carnivorous, the
decaying fish placed in lobster-pots, &c., being soon
covered with them. On the other hand, however,
it is itself a choice delicacy wiih the Cod, and
thousands of whelks are caught for the purpose of
exportation to the cod fisheries. The tongue of
this moUusk has long been a favourite object with
microscopists. It possesses no fewer than oue
hundred rows of teeth. One of the commonest of
sea-shore objects is the nidamental capsule of the
" White Whelk," looking for all the world like a
large bunch of hops (fig. 120). In each of these cap-
sules there are inclosed at least a score of young
mollusks, with shells complete ; so that they come

183

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

into the world, Minerva-like, ready-armed. The
spawning season is between October and May,
the developement of the fry requiring about two
months. J- E. Taylor.

THE GREEN EIELD-CRICKET.

[Gryllus viridissmns^

SEEING a paper in a recent number of Science-
Gossip (p. 59), on this interesting insect, has
induced me to write a few lines upon the subject,
which 1 trust may be interesting to the writer,
" E. A. M." ; and as she craves further information
on the subject, I trust this will have the desired
effect.

This beautiful, and by no means rare insect, is
one of tlie largest of the "merry" tribe desig-
nated Crickets, and cannot fail to attract the
attention of the most jiivenile of entomologists.
The males in the months of July and August
enliven the summer evening rambles with their
shrill music ; the females are, however, much less
noisy, only uttering a low call, whilst that of tlie
males is a continuous song. I have more than once
been deceived, whilst listening to the singing of
this insect, with regard to the distance he is off,
for there is a peculiarity in the sound, which leads
one to judge that he is very near, yet you may go
on for yards further ere you get to the spot
where the Grylhcs is going through his performance.
Should you be fortunate enough to catch a sight
of him and wish to make him yours, you must
approach him with the utmost caution, for if he
hears the least sound, he at once ceases his song,
and deigns not to resume it until " silence reigns
supreme." I have also observed that when one of
these insects takes up his abode in a certain bush,
lie seldom wanders far away from his chosen haunt,
but goes through his performance at sunset'
evening after evening, in the selfsame spot. I l)ave
on several occasions, whilst out in search of Lepi-
doptera, taken three, and even four, of these insects
in an evening, but I have never, except on one
occasion, taken a female, which may be easily dis-
tinguished by its long ovipositor. My mode of
capturing him has been to follow the sound, and to
approach as cautiously as possible until the creature
is discovered, which is not always an easy matter,
on account of its near resemblance in colour to the
herbage, and if possible to get behind him, and
gently take him by the tip of the wings between the
forefinger and thumb, which, however, requires no
small amount of caution, for if he catches sight of
his enemy, he gives one good spring and is quickly
out of si^ht, and you may hear him a few minutes
after singing away as merrily as if nothing had
happened. On one occasion I was greeted with
rather a sharpish bite for my trouble, for these

little creatures are quite capable of giving you an
unpleasant nip, if you do not display a little care in
taking them, and I was not aware, before this, that
they had a tendency that way. One thing must be
avoided,— putting two into the same box. together,
for they are pugnacious little fellows, and will fight
vigorously until one of them comes off short of
some appendage ; even that will not cause him to
retire from the field.

If kept, these creatures will often become very
tame and live for a long time in confinement, and
will sing away as merrily as if in their native corn-
fields or "hedgerows. As in the case of " E. A. M.,"
I have fed them with small flies, which they readily
devour, and with evident gusto, and occasionally, by
Avay of change a piece of apple, which they also
relish ; in fact, scarcely anything comes amiss to
these voracious little creatures ; and, alas ! they will
often prove cannibals, and devour one another. I
have many a time been greatly amused in watching
their actions, particularly that mentioned in Mr.
Ulyett's paper as "cleaning its teeth," which
seems an important process— whatever it may be
—in the life of Gryllus viridissinms. You may
often observe him gnawing away at a blade of grass
in the same manner as a caterpillar, beginning at
the top and working downwards. My first speci-
men I put into a cage with the sides of glass, and
a black muslin top, but he amused himself by gnaw-
ing the muslin through, and soon effected an exit.

It would be interesting to know how the peculiar
sound made by this creature is caused, for many and
varied are the opinions of authors with regard to
tlie origin of the sound. " In the mule," says De
Geer, " in that part of the right elytrum which is
folded horizontally over the trunk, there is a round
plate made of very fine transparent membrane, re-
sembling a little mirror, or piece of talc, of the
tension of a drum. Tliis membrane is surrounded
by a strong and prominent nervure, and is concealed
beneath the fold of the left elytrum, which has also
several prominent nervures, answering to the margin
of the membrane. There is," he further remarks,
" every reason to believe that the brisk movement
with which the grasshopper rubs these nervures
against each other produces a vibration in the mem-
brane, augmenting the sound. The males in question
sing continuously in the hedges and trees during
the months of July and August, especially to-
wards sunset and part of the night : when any one
approaches, they immediately cease their song."

li. Laddiuian.

THE WOOD SPIDER.

rpHE following is fronr the March number of the
-L " Cape Monthly Magazine," published in Cape
Town :— " While wandering over the wooded hills
of the Kleinemond River, with my net and port-

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

183

folio in search of specimens, &c., I came suddenly
upon a small recess, or opening in the forest. It
was clothed in long waving grass ; through the
adjacent lofty branches, a burst of sunshine had
stolen in upon its centre, forming a glorious con-
trast to the surrounding shade.

"Two trees stood apart from the trees of the
forest, near the centre of the grassy recess, and
were conspicuous for the light colour of their
stems, which was evidently produced by the pre-
sence of a minute species of moss or lichen, similar
to that which whitens rocks in high localities or
mountainous regions. Suspended between the
stems of the trees, was the light transparent net
of a wood spider. I could scarcely distinguish its
slender meshes in the bright sunshine ; the spider
was upon it at the time, busy with some repairs,
or probably its presence would not have been sus-
pected. It was one of those peculiarly formed
species, which invariably excite our wonder and
surprise, having a long process or horn projecting
from the centre of the body, which to a casual
observer would have appeared an incumbrance of
no ordinary magnitude. At ,my approach the little
creature seemed somewhat startled, so off" it trotted
and seated itself upon its hiding-place, the bare stem
of the tree, where I soon perceived that its resem-
blance to a spider or anything that had life was no
longer evident ; for as it sat motionless, with the
long projection from the centre, and its legs care-
fully folded beneath its body, it was a fac-simile of
the knots of wood or pro tiibe ranees upon the bark
of the trees which it inhabited, — the long horn re-
sembling the remains of a former twig or branchlet
which had died or fallen away, leaving only its foot-
stalk to show where once it had been.

" The colouring and pattern upon the spider, in
every particular, resembled that of the moss-clad
stems of the trees; upon its legs when folded was
a minute round patch of white, surrounded by
brown, similar to the smaller patches of lichens which
dotted the bark ; in fact the imitation was perfect, —
a small knot of wood with the remains of a broken
twig upon it. For some time, I stood near, admir-
ing the beauty and simplicity of the contrivance.
At length, to try the spider's faith in its conceal-
ment, I waved my hand ominously near, almost
brusliiug it from off the stem where it sat. The
spider, however, strong in the belief of its security,
was not the least alarmed, but remained immovable.

" After leaving the forest and its quiet occupants
the idea occurred to me that perhaps the lichens
that iu a great measure covered the stems of the
trees grew also upon the back of the spider, as
barnacles do upon the creatures of the sea. This,
however, was mere conjecture, for although I
believe it possible, 1 do not think it probable. The
wonderful and varied forms of spiders adapting
themselves to every condition of life even under

the most adverse circumstances, is evident to all
who have made nature their study. Obviously, the
spider's form and colouring is a provision for the
safety of a creature that has no wings to flee from
its enemies, or other means of protecting itself ;
and it is one of the many of Nature's pretty little
pieces of ingenuity, which will invariably strike a
reflective mind, causing him to admire, wonder, and
speculate at a beautiful contrivance for the safety
of a spider, a thing, apparently of so little value.
' That ugly spider !' is the usual exclamation, an
insect despised by nearly all, feared by many, and
sought after by none. Nevertheless, who shall
decide or condemn ? Not we, who have made the
study of God's works our pastime, for he ' who
marks the sparrow's fall,' regards the spider like-
wise, and has set apart the work which is allotted
to it ; it has its ' mission ;' for is not the spider one
of those appointed to keep down the preponderance
of insect life, — one of the protectors of our herbage-
plants ? Go into the forest and watch its oft-reple-
nished net, and mark well the creatures that are
snared therein, and learn a lesson that, without
our friend the ' hideous spider,' there would be a
missing link in Nature's endless chain."

M. E. Babber.

MICROSCOPY.

Cleaning Sand Eoraminifera. —The following
plan is given in Mr. Davie's work on " Preparing
and Mounting" : — "Eirst, thoroughly dry the sand
in which the objects are ; then pour the mass into
clean water, when the sand will sink to the bottom,
and the Eoramiuifera, being filled with air, will float
upon the surface of the water : they may then be
skimmed off and dried. To clean the specimens
place them in a vessel (I should think a small test-
tube would answer the purpose very well), add a
weak solution of potash, and boil for a short time ;
wash well in water, dry, and mount according to
structure." I cannot vouch for the efiiciency of this
process, as I have never prepared any objects of
this class myself. — Wm. Sargant,jun.

CoLiiiNs's LiGHT-coEBECTOK. — Mr. CoUins has
just devised an ingenious apparatus for this pur-
pose, consisting of a brass stage - plate with a
groove, in which rotates a diaphragm of four aper-
tures, one of them being open, and the other
containing blue glasses of special tint, and one with
a finely-ground surface. These effectually correct
the yellowness of all artificial illumination, making
the light soft and agreeable to the eyesight, as
well as improving the definition. It is, in fact, an
improvement on Rainey's Light-modifier, so as to
obtain more varied effects, and does not require
any special fitting, as it can be used on any micro-
scope.— Popular Science Review,

ISi

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE -GOS SIP.

DiATOMACEOUs Frtjstules. — Professor H.
Smith states in the " Lens," that he believes all
cliatomaceous frustules to be " siliceous boxes,"
with either one portion (the cover) slipping over
the other, as in Finnularia, or with edges simply
opposed, as in Fragilaria. If we take a frustule of
Melosira, it may be compared to a pill-box, one
portion slipping on to the other. The great majority
of diatoms are thus constituted.

ZOOLOGY.

Birds' Geographical Range.— There] are cer-
tain though somewhat indefinite limits to the range
of birds ; limits governed, however, by climate
rather than by physical boundaries. Thus the
Dusky Albatross {Diomedea fuliginosa) was ob"
served by Captain Beecliey to be numerous in the
Atlantic, from the Rio de la Plata lo the latitude of
51° south, when it suddenly disappeared ; but after
rounding Cape Horn, the species again occurred at
the very same latitude of 51°, and continued nu-
merous all up the coast of Chili. The Tropic Birds
(Phaethon), in like manner, as their name imports,
chiefly frequent the ocean within the tropics ; and
according to the statements of all voyagers, are
very rarely seen beyond the parallel of 35°.— G^osse,
" The Ocean."

A Curious Insect.— 1 had an opportunity of
observing a curious insect which inhabits trees of
the Fig family, upwards of twenty species of -which
are found here. Seven or ^ eight of them cluster
round a spot on one of the smaller branches, and
tliere keep np a constant distillation of a clear fluid,
which, dropping to the ground, forms a little puddle
below. If a vessel is placed under them in the
evening, it contains three or four pints of fluid in
the morning. A similar but much smaller homo-
pterous insect, of the family Cercopidte, is known in
England as the Froghopper {Aphrophora sptcmaria)y
when full grown and furnished with wings ; but
while still in the pupa state it is called Cuckoo-spit
from the mass of froth in which it envelops itself!
The African species is five or six times the size of
the 'Eix\»\h\\.— Livingstone, " Missionary Travels."

The British Association.— Great preparations
are being made to render the British Association
meeting at Brighton, on the 14th of August, a
complete success. Philosophical naturalists will
expect a treat in Dr. Carpenter's inaugural address.

Modern Subdivision in Science.— " That our
ancestors did not subdivide as much as we do, was
something of their luck, but no part of their merit.
Simply as subdividers to the extent which now
prevails, we are less superficial than any;former
age. But is it better to be a profound student or

[ a comprehensive one ? In some degree this must
depend upon the direction of the studies, but,
generally, I think, it is better for the interests of
knowledge that the scholar should aim at pro-
fundity, and better for the interests of the indi-
vidual that he should aim at comprehensiveness." —
Thomas De Quincey.

Rearing Atropos (p. 20, Jan. No.).— This
species is often troublesome to the breeder, and it
is very mortifying, after having captured the noble
larva, to have it die upon our hands in the pupa
state. Naturally, the larvae descend to some depth
in the earth, and thus escape the effects of mud,
moisture, or drouglit, heat or cold. The nearer we
can bring their condition in winter to that which
they would be in if at large, the greater are our
chances of rearing ; and if a larva has gone down
for the winter in a flowerpot, or similar article,
the exposure of this out of doors throughout the
winter, in a place not too exposed, may be advan-
tageous. The earth with which the larvae are
supplied should not be too fine, nor clayey. The
difiiculty is, how to adjust the moisture which
seems necessary, so as to keep the pupa in health,
without bringing on any decomposition. Dryness
seems, in this instance, to be more prejudicial than
damp : in many other species, we know that the
pupae will thrive if laid merely upon dry moss and
kept moderately cool. Mr. H. N. Humphreys
states that he managed thus : — " A large flower-
pot being selected, I stopped up the hole with a
cork, taking care to pass a quill, open at both
ends, through the cork, to serve as an escape-pipe
for superfluous wet, and yet not being large
enough to allow of the escape of the caterpillar ;
then, having put in a layer of pieces of broken
pots, to secure sufficient general drainage, the pot
was nearly filled with light gardenfmould, a piece
of strong canvass tied tightly over, and tlie pot
plunged up to its rim in a sheltered part of the
garden." It being an ascertained fact that of each
annual brood of Atropos a certain part (nearly, if
not all, barren females) emerge in the autumn,
some entomologists have recommended the
"forcing-out" of any captive pupae. This has
now and then succeeded; much more frequently,
however, through lack of sufficient nicety in the
administration of heat and moisture, the specimen
is dried up.—/. R. S. C.

Extracting Poison from the Rattlesnake.
— The process of extracting the poison from the
rattlesnake {Crotalus horridus) for medicinal pur-
poses whilst the reptiles were still living, has been
succesfully accomplished by Mr. J. C. Thompson
and Dr. Hayward, of Liverpool. The following was
the modus operandi, if any of our readers care to do
likewise : — The reptiles were in separate compart-
ments of a large case, fitted with a double lid for

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

185

extra security. A long staff, fitted with a thick

india-rubber noose at the end, which could be

loosened or tightened by the hand at pleasure, was

inserted through the partially opened lid, and the

opportunity quickly seized of slipping the loop over

the snake's head, the loop being immediately drawn

tight by means of the cord attached thereto. With

a similar contrivance the tail was next fastened,

and the snake, being thus securely held, was lifted

out of the box on to the floor of the room. A

pickle-bottle containing cliloroform was then thrust

over the snake's head, and carefully held in its place

by keeping time to the animal's efforts to extricate

itself. As the reptile became stupefied, the noose

was gradually relaxed to enable the lungs to have

full play, and when it appeared powerless, the

snake was laid in a long narrow box made for the

purpose, with an aperture at one end, out of which

its head projected while the after- operation was

performed. Its jaws were then opened and fixed,

and the poison-glands were pressed with forceps,

then with the gloved finger and thumb, while a

small blown graduated phial was held to receive

the drops as they slowly oozed out through the

poison-fangs. Twenty drops were the average

quantity yielded by each snake. The venom is of a

straw-colour, thick and gummy in consistency, and

decidedly acid in its reaction on litmus-paper.

It is readily soluble in glycerine or water, but is

precipitated by strong alcohol, the precipitate

being re- dissolved, with the addition of a little

water. Its toxicological properties were fully tried

on a variety of animals. Half a drop produced

death in a linnet within three minutes after being

injected under the wing.

New' Netted Glass-kope Sponge. — The British
Museum has just received a very beautiful clavate
netted sponge, discovered in the Philippines, which
Dr. J. E. Grey has named Meyerella claviforiiiis,
after its discoverer, D.-. A. D. Meyer. The follow-
ing is the description : — " Sponge simple, elongate,
clavate, acute at the apex, at which are several tufts
of short cylindrical fibres. The body of the sponge
is elongate - fusiform, with longitudinal ridges
irregularly disposed, often inosculating together,
leaving various-shaped deep concavities on the sur-
face. These ridges, and the very numerous irregular-
shaped, often confluent elevations in the concavities
between them, are furnished with various-shaped
large oscules on the upper surface. The sides of
the ridges and the tops of the prominences are all
united by a very fine cobweb -like netted coat,
formed of numerous fibres, and pierced with an
immense number of very minute, exceedingly close
perforations. The stem cylindrical, thick, ending in
a thick cylindrical tuft of elongated glassy fibres
evidently anchoring the sponge in the sand. Nume-
rous cylindrical bunches of fibre are to be seen

through the substance of the sponge, extending
throughout the greater part of the length of the
stem."

New Species of Insects. — In the Eulomologist's
Monthly Magazine for July, Mr, C. G. Barrett de-
scribes a species of Tortrix from Great Britain, new
to science, under the name of Dicroraupha her-
bosam. In the same number, Mr. E. C. Bye
enumerates three species of British coleoptera new
to our list.

Provincial Natural History Societies.— The
Natural History Society of Bury, in Lancashire, al-
though it has only been in existence since 1868, has
already done good work. The report, from the
time of founding to December of last year, has just
been published. It includes a list of the plants,
insects, birds, and animals of their district, all
authenticated by members of the society. This is
an example that might be followed by other societies
with great benefit to natural science. We notice,
also, an interesting excursion made by the Calder-
vale Naturalists in June, for botanical and geological
purposes. The Report of the Winchester Scientific
and Literary Society for 1870-71 contains an ab-
stract of all the papers and lectures read or de-
livered before the Society ; but the most noticeable
feature is a list of the flowering plants, ferns, &c.,
found within seven miles from Winchester. The
majority of these have been collected by members
of the Botanical Section during the last two years,
and the list is very full and complete.

BOTANY.

Preserving Fungi. — Mr. S, Hibbei-d, iu his
work on " Field Flowers," says : " Fungi may be
dried by the simple process of bedding them in
silver sand, gills upwards, in small tin boxes, and
placing the boxes in a slow oven for two or three
hours.— IF'M. Sargant, jun.

How TO Preserve Fungi. — A correspondent
in the May number of Science-Gossip wishes to
know the best way to preserve fungi. I think he
will find the following a good plan : — Take sulphuric
acid 2 pints, distilled water 8 pints ; mix, and then
add creosote 1 pint. Filter through chalk or lime,
and again through filtering-paper. Bottle the
fungi in this preparation, and tie down tightly.
This will preserve them naturally for any length of
time without destroying their colour.— /S'. J. J.

Physcia parietina. — It has long been known
that the common yellow wall-lichen {Physcia parie-
tina) yields to hot alcohol a yellow crystalline
principle (chyrsophanic acid), which on decomposi-
tion by potash produces a magnificent red colouring
matter; but it has not, I believe, been hitherto
known that this acid is to be obtained in splendid

186

HARDWiCKE'S SCI ENCE- GOSSIP.

crystalline plates by exposure of the lichen to heat
in a covered vessel. A very careful management of
the heat is necessary, in order to obtain the best
result. If insufficient, there is no product ; if in
excess, then the acid is entirely sublimed in exceed-
ingly small prisms upon tlie cover of the vessel ; if
the heat be exactly of the right degree and kept up
a sufficient time, then the acid collects in large
plates and spiculaj about the edges of the apothecia,
glittering like mica and reflecting every variety of
prismatic colour. In this condition the lichen fur-
nishes a brilliant object for the microscope. My
mode of proceeding to obtain the proper result is
to place a portion of the lichen, furnished with ripe
apothecia, in a small porcelain dish or watch-glass,
which I cover with a bit- of window glass, and then
expose to the heat of a small spirit-lamp flame, at a
distance of about four inches from the source of
heat. The first result, in all probability, will be a
deposit of condensed moisture upon the under sur-
face of the cover. This may be wiped off, and the
cover replaced. If the heat is now of the right
degree, small glittering crystals will, in the course
of twenty minutes or so, make their appearance
about the apothecia, and gradually increase in size
under the prolonged continuance of the heat, until
the matter yielding them is exhausted. When a
good crop has been obtained the operation should
be discontinued, otherwise the product might be
too far volatilized. The result is exceedingly beauti-
ful, and will well repay care and patience in obtain-
ing it. These crystals are a delicate test for potash,
striking with it a brilliant red colour.— C. /, Mailer,
Eastbourne.

New BKiTisn Elora. — Mr. A. Irvine, of 28,
Upper Manor-street, Chelsea, is preparing a new
work on the " British Plants," giving a condensed
summary of the characters of the orders, genera,
and species. x\s he is very desirous to obtain in-
formation about all recent additions to the species,
and hitherto unpublished localities, he will be glad
to receive any assistance on these heads.

Our Moss Flora.— The Journal of Botany for
July contains an excellent article by Dr. Braith-
waite, on " Recent Additions to our Moss Flora,"
Ulustrated by two lithographic plates of the new
species.

The Agassiz Expedition. — American papers
state that the Agassiz expedition, at the latest
accounts, was off Sandy Point, Patagonia; and that
among the scientific curiosities noted by some mem-
bers of the party were immense quantities of the
largest known alga or seaweed, which grows on
those coasts in from 6 to 20 fathoms of water, in
vast beds. Patches of this seaweed were passed
in open sea, with large sea- lions lying on their
surface.

Manna of the DESERT.-^Slnce the appearance
of the article in Science-Gossip of March last, 1
have been informed that the paper read by Mr.
Munby before the British Association at Birming-
ham, in 1819, left an impression (an erroneous one)
on the minds of some, that it was opposed to the
Biblical account: it may therefore be as well to
make a few additional observations, in order to
remove any doubts (if such stQl exist) on the sub-
ject. All will admit the manna vras miraculously
supplied, but there is no more reason to suppose
that it was not a natural product than the water
which issued from the rock at Horeb, where the
miracle consisted in its sudden issuing from the rock,
not in the water itself ; so with the quails, which
were miraculously seiit, but were natural quails.
The statement of Mr. Muuby that the lichen
grew up in the night (although afterwards qualified
by the expression " springing up ") might, if taken
literally, and without qualification, lead to an objec-
tion that lichens are plants of slow growth ; some
lichens, however (the Collemas for instance), are
greatly affected by moisture, so that during the
heat of the day, in such a hot climate, they would
be "scarcely visible, while in moist weather they
would " spring up," swell, and become prominent
objects: such would be the effect of a strong dew.
Thus, " when the dew that lay was gone, there lay
a small round thing," &c., but "when the sun
wuxedhot, it melted." (Exodus xvi. 14 and 21.) In
like manner the lichens would appear to melt, or, in
other words, to shrivel up and almost disappear.
An interesting account, and much to the purpose,
is given of the lichen by Lindley in his " Vegetable
Kingdom." He says : ",The Lichen esculentus some-
times appears in immense quantities in Persia,
Armenia, and Tartary, where they are devoured by
the natives, who fancy that they must fall from
heaven, not knowing how to account for the prgdi-
gious numbers of the plants, of the origin of which
they are ignorant." He adds : " Parrott says that
in some districts of Persia they cover the ground to
j the depth of five or six inches, and Eversman, who
had an opportunity of studying the species on the
rivers Ember and Jaik, and also near Lake Oral,
was convinced that, even in the earliest stage of
growth, the plants have not the slightest attachment
even to a grain of sand, but that the thallus is
developed freely, as was at first declared by Pallas.
A species or variety has lately been found in large
quantities in Algiers; and Treviranus informs us
that specimens supposed to have descended from the
clouds at Mount Ararat, exist in the Museum of
Natural History in the Armenian convent of St.
Lazzaro, in an island of that name in Venice. The
curious production in question is eaten both by
men and animals in the several countries extending
from Algiers to Tartary. The individual plants
weigh from a few grains to two scruples or upwards

HAKDWICKE'S SCIENCB-QOSSIP.

187

even when dry, and when swollen with moisture
nearly twice as much." — B. W.

" Grevillea."— Under this title has just
appeared the first number of a monthly magazine
devoted to cryptogaraic botany. When we state
that it is edited by Mr. M. C. Cooke, M.A., we
have given a sufficient indication of its able conduc-
torship. The present number has a most beautiful
coloured plate of American Pezizse, illustrating an
articlc'on that subject by Messrs. Cooke and Peck.
It also contains articles by Dr. Braithwaite and
the Rev. W. A. Leighton; besides additions to
British fungi, by Mr. Cooke, made since the publi-
cation of his " Handbook of British Pungi."J

GEOLOGY.

Fossil Birds.— It is especially the Middle
Tertiary deposits which have furnished me with a
rieh harvest. Thus, in the department of the
Allier I have recognized the presence of about
seventy species belonging to various groups, some
of which no longer belong to our fauna. Parrots
and trogons inhabited the woods : swallows built
in the fissures of the rocks nests, in all probability
like those now found in certain parts of Asia and
the Indian Archipelago. A secretary-bird, nearly
allied to that of the Cape of Good Hope, sought in
the plains the serpents and reptiles which at that
time, as now, must have furnished its nourishment.
Large adjutants, cranes , flamingoes, the Pahe-
lodi (birds of curious lorms, partaking at once of
the characters of the flamingoes and ordinary
grallffi), and ibises frequented the banks of the
•watercourses, where the larva; of insects and
mollusks abounded; pelicans floated in the midst of
the lakes; and lastly, sand-grouse and numerous
gallinaceous birds assisted in giving the ornitholo-
gical population a physiognomy with which it is
impossible not to be struck, and which recalls to
one's mind the descriptions which Livingstone has
given ns of certain lakes of Southern Africa. —
Milne-Edward's "Investigations on Fossil Birds."

The Probable Existence of Coal-measukes
IN THE South-east of England.— This is the sub-
ject of a most elaborate article in the July number
of the Popular Science Review, from the pen of Mr,
Joseph Prestwick,P.R.S.j &c., late president of the
Geological Society of London, It is illustrated by
an excellent coloured map. We refer our readers
to the article itself, as an example of clear geological
reasoning. The same number also contains a
capital article by Professor John Morris, on the
" Newly-discovered Fossil Man," illustrated by a
lithograph plate.

Collection of Flint Implements, &c. — As
some of your readers may at this time be visiting

the metropolis, it may be useful to some to know
they can verify for themselves facts which before
were only presented to them in books. Those who
have not seen the interesting collection of ethnology
and prehistoric remains bequeathed by the late
Mr. Henry. Christie should do so at once: a visit
will amply repay the trouble. The museum is
situate at 103, Victoria Street, Westminster, ad-
mission to which is by ticket, available only on
Fridays, from ten to four. The tickets are obtained
at the British Museum itself on any of the open
days on application. The collection (in four rooms)
contains prehistoric remains of Europe, Asia, and
Africa. The flint implements from the drift are
here most beautifully and symmetrically arranged,
and you can observe, even from that period, the
advance from the rudely-chipped celt to its more
polislied successor. Daggers, spear-heads, saws,
arrow-heads, beside celts, chisels, and gouges, are
here all represented. Some from Santon Downham,
Norfolk, from Hoxne, Suffolk, the Yorkshire wolds,
the Irish celt, axe, and hammer-heads, &c., of their
own peculiar type. Most interesting, too, are the
remains from the caves of Dordogne, France, con-
sisting chiefly of the animal remains of the mammoth,
hyena, reindeer, and horse, some of the bones of the
former having the figure of the animal itself en-
graved on them ; of flint and worked bone imple-
ments, arrow-heads and scrapers, barbed spear-heads
for fishing, and ornaments of fossil shells, with
needles from the shank-bones of the horse. These
form the most valuable part of the collection. In
contrast with them is the ethnographical collection
(modern races), and notably in this are the Esqui-
maux, exhibiting, in the chipped arrow-heads and
scrapers of siliceous materials, harpoon-heads, and
bone needles, their identity with their prehistoric
prototypes. Of special interest are the objects from
ancient Mexico, — sculpture, pottery of different
kinds, arrow-heads, &c., the most remarkable among
which being a mask formed out of a human skull,
coated entirely with a mosaic-work of turquoise and
obsidian. The eyes are made of iron pyrites, very
highly polished, so as to resemble small convex
mirrors; the teeth of a white stone, the mouth
being made to open ; the mask is furnished with
straps, so as to be worn. Here are, also, ancient
earthen pipes in the form of animals, from the
mounds of Ohio, North America, which bring to
mind the buried cities of the northern continent, a
subject long the wonder of the historic student. In
these divisions the ethnologist may study the man-
ners, customs, and dress of the different races of
man, shown in their war implements, articles of
dress and domestic use, their musical instruments,
&c., through tribes from the north-west coast of
America, the Asiatic Islands, China, Japan, North
and Central Africa, the Polynesian group, all ex-
hibiting the characteristics of the various races. To

188

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

be brought face to face with tlie remnants of a vast
antiquity, excites in the mind of the spectator a
deep and thrilling interest, as he sees in these rude
emergencies of almost primitive man the gradual
development into higher and still higher types of
civilization. The splendid work on " Stone Imple-
ments," by Mr. Evans, I'ecently published, will have
given additional zest to the prehistoric branch of
this subject.— aS. C. S.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Migration or wood-boring Caterpillaks. —
It was formerly supposed that such species as the
Goat (0. lujniperda), and the Leopard {Z. JUscnli)
would not quit the tree in which they were nurtured
unless driven from it by some alarm. But, recent
observers have stated that the Goat caterpillar does
thus wander from one tree to another when of
considerable size, — a proceedins which certainly
exposes it to some danger. The Leopard cater-
pillar, as I have recently noticed on a pear-tree,
leaves its mine occasionally, and crawling to another
part of the tree, re-enters it, and drives another
burrow. One will thus remain sometimes in close
proximity to the bark for awhile, its presence not
being detected until the "frass" left behind
gradually decays and loosens the bark, and the gap
left becomes the resort of earwig?, beetles, and
other wanderers of the insect race.^-/. R. S. C.

TiNiiE destroying PuPiE. — Like others, I have
observed various Tiniaj on the watch for opportu-
nities to deposit eggs in cages; one species in
particular, which is not the one mentioned by Mr.
Greene (psendo-sprefelia), but, as I think, the bisel-
liella of modern authors ; the destructor of Stephens,
depositing its eggs on the gauze covering of flower-
pots containing pupse, and the young larvae drop-
ping to the moss and earth beneath, make their way
down to their choice pabulum. Until I discovered
their mode of proceeding, I was astonished to find
that these moths were emerging from pots and cages
which had been kept carefully closed from these
marauders. — J. li. S. C.

Scientific Guide-Books_(p. 142). — I think Mr.
Warrington's suggestion is a very good one.
Many of our guide-books arc faulty both in style
and arrangement, and few can be called really
excellent. As a good specimen of what a guide-
hook ought to be, I would refer to the Rev. J. G.
Cumming's "Guide to the Isle of Man," published
by Stanford. It contains not only an excellent
itinerary and history of the island, but also an
account of the peculiarities of its geology, zoology,
botany, and conchology. — G. H. 11.

Canine Gyrations. — A canine contributor
(p. 140) has given us his ideas on this subject, but
1 do not think he is altogether right. The dogs
who "gyrate" most are smootii terriers and other
short-haired animals, while shaggy poodles and
hairy creatures in general sink down complacently
on the mat with which nature has provided them,
without any unnecessary ivolutions. As for our
correspondent "Fido" liimself, if there be any
truth in Mr. Darwin's theory, we shall soon see
him in human, or at any rate in monkey, form. —
E. C. Lefroy.

Crows. — A lady of my acquaintance resident at
Dorking, in Surrej', was very much surprised some
mongths ago at seeing about twenty crows sitting
on a neighbouring tree apparently in solemn con-
clave. After an hour's deliberation they all flew
away, and shortly afterwards a crow, almost pecked
to death, was found at the foot of the _tree._ Stan-
ley mentions the same thing as occurring in Scot-
land and the Eeroe Islands.—^. C. Lefroy.

Two Birds from one Egg (p. 164).— This may
well be, for eggs with a double yolk occasionally
come to table. Also, poultry-breeders often find a
brood with one chick in excess of the number of
eggs put with the " sitting." This is sometimes
attributed to an additional egg, surreptitiously laid,
but is more probably from the double yolk. — A. H.

Orchis militaris. — Can any of your correspon-
dents give me privately exact localities in Berk-
shire, Oxfordshire, or Buckinghamshire, for Orchis
militaris and 0. Simia ? I shall, of course, not
abuse such confidence by playing the part of exter-
minator.— R. Payne.

Separating Spicules. — Your correspondent
Mr. R. Battersby finds a difficulty in separating
spiculse from the animal matter of Syuaptse,
Holothurise, &c. May I be allowed to suggest
that, as there are no bone-cleaners like ants,
so these minute anatomists might assist your
friend in his preparations. ]3y placing the
specimens, either in a fresh state or well steeped
in water, upon a plate, or some other convenient
receptacle, in close ])roximity to an ant-heap,
it is more than probable that he will find his
work done for him after a short period, or, at
any rate, so far as to render the spiculaj then fit
subjects for the boiling in liquor potassa;, steeping
in strong ammonia, &c. — Metcalfe Johnson.

Charlock. — Under this head, in Science-
Gossip of last month, Major Holland has given the
name of brassica to Sinapis arvensis (wild mustard).
It is not a brassica, aud, though belonging to the
tribe Brassiccfc, is no more a brassica than the
Diplotaxis, which also belongs to the tribe Brassicea.
{See Hooker, Lindley, &c.) Major Holland refers
to Sowerby's " English Botany ; " in my edition it
is called Sinapis, but said to resemble brassica. To
call it brassica, therefore, tends to mislead the
vounger botanical readers of Science-Gossip. —
T. B. W.

Natural HistoPvY Societies.— In reply to Mr.
Davies's inquiry after a Natural History Society
somewhere near Clapton, E., I would bring under
his notice the East London Naturalists' Society, of
which I have the honour of being secretary. It
was founded in 1S70, and is now in a thriving con-
dition. I shall be happy to furnish him with all
particulars on application to 23, Eairfoot-road,
Bromley-by-Bow, K—Jolm IF. Love.

Caterpillars in Confinement. — I think
"J. R. S. C." would find the following plan pre-
ferable to the usual way of keeping caterpillars.
Get two flowerpots, or boxes if he prefers them,
one of which will slip not halfway into the other.
Into the bottom one he can put some earth, moss,
aud damp sand; then he can put tlie stalks of the
plants on which he feeds the caterpillars through
the hole of the top pot, into which he can put the
animals, and cover with glass. A small bit of nitre
will keep a plant fresh a good deal longer dissolved
in water.— ^. T. S.

HAflDVVICKE'S SCI E N C E-GO S S 1 P.

189

Saffron to Birds. — With reference to the
question of " J. R,. S. C," it may be asserted that
saffron is certainly an aromatic, and is also slij^htly
stimulant. The administration of saffron to birds
during moulting is founded on a theory that at
this period the bird should be in a kind of fever, such
increased state of excitement and heat being neces-
sary for the proper performance of the function of
moulting. From some cause, as that the bird is
debilitated, or the weather is coolsr than usual,
there is not a state of vigour or sufficiently increased
excitement to carry the bird safely through the
process. A " chill " is given, the falling-off of the
feathers is cliecked, a retrocession takes place, some
internal organ is attacked, and the bird sinks either
from exhaustion or from the new induced disease.
Such is the theory. But " fanciers " differ in the
diagnosis and treatment of the diseases of birds as
much as doctors do concerning those appertaining
to man. Some give in this case saffron as a stimu-
lant,—of very small power, as "J. R, S. C." has
pointed out, when administered in the usual manner.
Others place a nail in the drinking-water, so that it
may rust, believing that if the bird swallows the
minute quantity of protoxide of iron which may be
diffused throughout the water, a tonicity of system
may be acquired sufficient to carry it through the
change, which, after all, is but a natural process,
becoming unhealthy only under certain conditions.
— Henry J. Bacon.

Where are the Swallows ?— I have watched
for them in their old haunts over Hampstead
Heath, near the ornamental water in the parks,
&c. ; but even near Bishop's Wood, where they
formerly congregated in numbers, I have seen
neither swallow, martin, nor swift this year. Are
they scarce in other parts of England, or have they
simply forsaken the north-western outskirts of the
metropolis ? — TL. M. F.

Wn.^.LEs IN Garrans Bay, Cornwall. — I
copy the following from the IFest Briton of June
theSOth : — "pu the 12th instant the appearance of a
curious sail in the bay attracted the attention of
fishermen, and one of them, on getting nearer to it,
found it to be the dorsal fin of a whale; so he
deemed it prudent to give it a wide berth. About
three months since a young fisherman, when in the
bay, saw passin,^ by him a whale with a young calf
ou either side of her ; but she was very pacific, and
apparently sought only her own and infant's se-
curity. This is the first appearance of whales here
for the last ten or twelve years. Those that were
previously accustomed to frequent for some years
the Cornish coast,_were found dead about ten years
since : one was found in Garrans Bay, and the
other was towed into Ealmouth harbour." — //.
Btidge.

Scarcity op Butterflies in 1872.— Being in
Kent through the first half of June, I was rather
surprised to find how very scarce butterflies were,
and one greatly missed these ornaments of the
landscape. Even on bright days there were few
about, except Whites, and the disappearance or re-
tardation of the rest must, 1 presume, have been
caused by the cold nights (and days also, not unfre-
quently), and the heavy rainfall in part of May and
June. The Small Tortoiseshell, frequently abundant
in June, only exhibited itself now and then; of
Meadow Browns and Walls there were only solitary
specimens here and there; while nearlv all the

hybernated Brimstones were extinguished ; aud in-
stead of common Blues appearing by the dozen, as
is often the case, I believe I only saw three or four.
The Large Skipper was not about, though the small
species (Lineci) began to come out the second week.
A few battered Fritillaries were about in the woods,
remnants of the brood of Eaphrosyne ; but the
most abundant species (though local) M'as the Small
Heath.—/. R. S. C.

Montagu's Harrier.— The notice of this bird
in last month's Magazine reminds me of some facts
connected with one which was shot near Guildford
last spring. For three or four years the keeper had
said that a large grey bird came over the farm
about the same time every year; he did not know
what it was, and the men called it the Grey Kite.
In 1872 I saw it when out with my gun one day : it
was flying low by the hedge, and I was unable to
get near enough to see what it was ; the following
year it appeared again, this time coming within
range of the keeper, who killed it : when it turned
out to be a Montagu's Harrier in the grey plumage
of the adult. It seemed always to be flying in a
southern direction. Can any of your reaciers give
any explanation of this circumstance? Is it that
they are migratory birds, and would be going south
at that time of year ? — /. L. C.

Bees. — Having lost all my bees this spring, I
placed, a few days ago, two hives half full of empty
comb to dry, inverting one and settin"' the other
upon it, so that they were placed mouth to mouth,
the upper one projecting over the other a little in
front. On July 5th I was surprised to see a score
or two of bees flying about the opening, but sup-
posed them to be seeking some remains of honey
which might be left. About half an hour later I
went up the garden, and found that a large swarm
of bees had settled on the outside of the hive, and
were rapidly ascending into the upper one; and. I
now have them on my stand. None of my imme-
diate neighbours keep bees, as I believe, therefore
these must have travelled some little distance ; and
the bees I first saw must have beeu pioneers seek-
ing a suitable home. I£ they came with the wind,
they must have topped a hedge eight feet high, at
the foot of which the hives were placed, and at
only a few feet distance in the other direction were
some tall peas ; so that they must have flown at
some height and dropped suddenly down to the
\i\.\Q.— Arthur R. Graliara.

The Hawfinch. — Perhaps one or two additional
facts respecting the occurrence of this bird may
still be interesting, although the evidence adduced
in several recent numbers of Science-Gossip seems
to show that it is not so rare as was by some corre-
spondents supposed. About the beginning of May
a deserted nest of the Hawfinch, containing six
eggs, was brought to me from a neighbouring
orchard. The situation, which I afterwards saw,
was a very conspicuous one, — on a horizontal branch
of an apple-tree, about twelve feet from the ground.
The old man who took the nest, and who is well
acquainted with the nidificatiou of the neighbour-
hood, had never met with one of the kind before ;
but the bird was not strange to him, and he had
seen several of them during this spring. I have
since learned that the nest has been found on more
than one occasion in the garden of a gentleman of
this place, and that on one at least of these occa-
sions it was, like the one I have, conspicuously

190

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

situated in an apple-tree. I learn, also, that four
young hawfinches are now to be seen tog;ether,
engaged in plundering green peas ; so that at least
two nests of the species have been built here this
season. Moreover, the bird has been repeatedly
shot hereabouts. I am acquainted ■ with several
preserved specimens. I may add, as showing the
likelihood that the Hawfinch is pretty generally
diffused, that, on my casually mentioning the sub-
ject to a Lancashire friend, he replied that in a
narrow space in his own locality one or two nests
are found every year. Perhaps the nest is not
found so often as, from the frequency of the bird,
might have been expected. If this is so, I should
be prepared to hear that it is not always built in
such an exposed situation as those to which I have
referred. It is, however, a large nest, including a
broad foundation of twigs : and the general testi-
mony of writers seems to be that the situation is
usually an exposed one. ^ B. P. P., Haslemere,
Surrey.

The Bite op the Stag Beetle.— Might I add
the following extracts to the correspondence which
has appeared in your Magazine on this subject?
The Rev. J. G. Wood says : " The female is, as far
as regards the shape of the body, like the male, but
her jaws are very diffei'ent in form, being much
smaller, curved, and sharply pointed, as any one can
testify who has been bitten by them. The male can
pinch very severely with his enormous mandibles ;
but the female bites much more viciously, as I can
testify from much personal experience of the bites
of both sexes." And in "Insect Miscellanies"
Westwood says, regarding them : " The size (of
male and female), however, is not the only distinc-
tion, for the female possesses little more than the
rudiments of the very remarkable horn-like man-
dibles with which the male is furnished. This
organ in the male is no less formidable than it
appears, as the unwary school-boy often ex]jeriences:
for it can be used as a pair of pincers, so powerfully
as to inflict considerable pain." The above, and all
the notes which have appeared in the Magazine,
lead one to the conclusion, I think, that stag
beetles do not bite unless in self-defence, and only
occasionally then, as I have handled them without
their attempting, when I gave them the chance.—

J . Li, Li.

Green Lizaeds. — I opened a green lizard, which,
from a few hairs in the moutli, I presume was killed
by the cat in my garden. As is well known, this
species snaps sharply at the fingers if touched,
though it cannot inflict a wound. The poor little
creature I knew was in an "interesting" condition,
and in fact the whole cavity of the body, from the
sternum to the anal orifice, was occupied by eggs,
thirteen of which averaged -gths of an inch in length,
by fths in breadth. The liver and digestive canal
were almost literally nowhere. The length of the
cavity was three inches. 1 ani sorry to say that
dealers are advertising here for green lizards. —
Pev. J. J. Muir, Jersey.

The Influence of the Moon upon Lunatics
(p. 117).— Modern science refuses to recognize this,
though the belief is of veiy considerable antiquity.
And yet, so far as 1 am aware, no observations of
importance liave been made by those having oppor-
tunity to give a fair test to the supposition. It is
an unquestionable fact that in most of the forms of
insanity there aie changes more or less periodic in
the condition 6f the patient. The old idea which

has been variously stated, however, was, I believe,
to this effect : that lunatics were better at the new
moon, and worse at the full. There is a passage
somewhere in Byron, which I cannot precisely re-
member, referring to this, as an opinion existing
amongst Orientals. Dr. Leslie thinks, from his ex-
amination of the Syriac and other versions of the
Scriptures, that the "lunatics" mentioned in the
New Testament were "sleep-walkers," who, through
some disease of the brain, were led to wander about
by moonlight over the flat roofs so common in
Eastern houses.—/. R. S. C.

^ Irkitating Effects of Caterpillars' Hairs.—
The only larva I have ever found to have this
irritating property when handled is that of ^. Rtibi,
the Pox-moth. It is an insect that I have takeii
much pains in breeding and have been very suc-
cessful with, but always have needed to handle
them with care. On one occasion the place broke
into an open sore, and continued for some months
to heal and break open again. Lately, when I have
been handling them, I have singed my fingers over
the gas or a match before touching anything, and
have felt no _ inconvenience since I adopted that
plan. The skin at the finger-ends appears too thick
for the hairs to penetrate far enough to irritate,
and it is only when they get to some more tender
place that they affect it injuriously. They must
penetrate with either end, for they will leave the
finger-ends for any other part that may be touched.
1 have handled B. Querciis, A. Caja, mmflua, and
many other "hairy worms," but never found any
other species than PvM to have this irritating
effect. — John E. Bobson, Hartlepool.

LarvtE of the Small Eggar {B. lanestria).—
It always appeared to me that this larva was unable
to move without tiie thread coming from them ;
that the " spinning " was an involuntary act ; and
thus, as they crawl about for food, the web is spun.
As the leaves are eaten in immediate proximity to
the place where they were hatched, they have to go
further for food, and the web is gradually extended
with their wanderings. After the last moult this
involuntary emission of the web seems to cease.
They then separate and wander away from each
other ; a wise provision, necessary for the preserva-
tion of the species, as otherwise they would all
spin their cocoons in one place, and be more liable
to destruction. — John E. Bobson, Hartlepool.

Skeleton Leaves. _ — I shall feel very much
obliged to any subscriber who will kindly inform
me the right time to gather leaves in order to
obtain their skeletons; also the best method of
preparing the skeletons, and of preserving them
when obtained.— Z. F. H.

[See article in February number on a " Simple
Method of Preparing Skeleton Leaves." — Ed. S.G.]

" Moth among Clothes."— Seeing no one has
answered the appeal respecting the destruction of
these insidious pests, I would advise your corre-
spondent that the first desideratum is a box with a
close-fitting lid. Nothing else will serve the pur-
pose of keeping out the moths for any length of
time; for where they cannot get in bodily, they
will thrust in the ovipositor, and deposit their eggs.
To destroy the larva; and moths, if they have
entered, benzole will be found the most eificacious.
This may be sprinkled over the apparel. If, as
before mentioned, the lid is well-fitting, the benzole
will retain its influence for a length of time. If

HARDWICKE'S SCIBNCE-GOSSIP.

191

economy is an object, rags saturated with turpen-
tine, alone or mixed with benzole, may be placed iu
a corner of the box. It need hardly be stated that
a liglit should not be brought near the box when
first opened, as the vapour of benzole is highly
inflammable, but soon passes off. — //. J. B.

Cleaning Featheus.— Can you, or any of your
readers or correspondents, inform me of any means
for cleaning the feathers of stuffed birds from dust,
accumulated by too long exposure in an unglazed
case ? The bird I more particularly refer to is the
Duck (long-tailed).— r. E.

Worms in Fish.— The following curious pheno-
menon came under my notice a day or two since :—
A large well-favoured looking, and perfectly_ fresh
grey gurnet was served up at our table for dinner ;
and on the first flake being taken from the back and
put on a plate, there appeared _ a long tapering red
creature, which soon showed itself to be a worm.
As this circumstance rather shocked those who
were at the table, of course the fish was removed,
and we concluded that the worm had proceeded
from the parsley, with which, de more, the fish was
garnished. On further examination below-stairSj
however, it appeared that the whole of the vertebra
of the spine wa:s thick with these wretched little,
long, hairy worms. The fishmonger says he has
never seen a parallel case. The circumstance seems
so remarkable, that I am induced to trouble you
with this letter. The presence of these worms ap-
pears clearly to indicate disease, though, as far as I
know, not Trichinse, as they are, I believe, infinitely
more minute reptiles. If the fish had been dead long
enough to breed "worms, — first, it would have smelt
very strongly; and secondly, _ the maggots would
not resemble one I send, which is one of the re-
markable little reptiles found. If any of your
readers could throw a little light upon the subject,
it would much interest and greatly oblige. — H. Bent.

Plants applied to Ornament. — Being at pre-
sent engaged on a work on ornamental art, I am
desirous of referring to as many examples as pos-
sible of the use of our wild plants iu old stone
carving, illumination, &c. Some of my own entries
will perhaps better illustrate what I mean than any
more lengthened description. "Oak, leaves and
acorns, small but good, a capital at Ely " ; " Hazel
leaves and nuts, naturalistic in treatment, hollow
moulding, Winchester"; "Borage, naturalistic, 10th
century MS., British Museum " ; " Bindweed,
leaves at end of stalls, Wells Cathedral"; "Peri-
winkle, 16th century MS. in British Museum " ;
" Columbine, on a brass,' Exeter Cathedral." If any
of your numerous readers will kindly help me, I
shall gladly avail myself of their assistance. I shall
be glad to know the source from whence the ex-
ample is derived ; as stone or wood carving, stained
glass, &c, ; whether naturalistic or conventional in
treatment, and, in fact, any information respecting
the example referred to, that my correspondents
may feel at all interesting. As I can scarcely hope
that this would be a matter of general interest,
those who are able and willing to assist me will
perhaps kindly address to me direct, rather than
through the pages of Science-Gossip. — F. E, Uulme,
F.L.S., F.S.A., Marlborough.

The Cuckoo. — Iu Science-Gossip for July,
Mr. C. A. Rowley gives some notes on the Cuckoo.
His observations, however, are quite different from
any I have heard before, as I never heard of or saw

an old cuckoo frequenting the locality where its
young one was hatched. Cuckoos are very common
in the whole of Munster and Connaught, especially
in the hill countries, and numbers of the young
ones may be seen in July and early August ; yet at
that time the old birds seem totally to have disap-
peared. I have seen hundreds of young ones, but
never remember to have remarked an old one iu
their season. The advent of the Cuckoo is most
marked : for miles along a coast-line he will be
heard on the same day, and during the next week
or fortnight these will scatter over the adjoining in-
land; but where do they go? The hills in this
neighbourhood were alive with them a month ago,
but I have only seen one during the last week ; and
although I have watched and watched, I never could
find out what becomes of the young ones. The
latter may be seen in August with their foster-
mothers, while the corn is being cut, but after that
they mysteriously disappear. A young cuckoo has
a most peculiar tongue, like a table on an in-
geniously constructed level. It does not feed, like
other young birds, by opening its mouth to let the
food be dropped in, but it shoots out the table for
the food to be placed on it. They are very easily
reared, and make good pets ; but unfortunately it is
hard to keep them through the winter. All mine
suddenly died without apparently any cause. Any
one interested in the Cuckoo will find a great num-
ber of facts about it published in Land and Water
about two or three years ago. — G. II. K., Kylemore.

Plants and Gaslight. — It is a most mistaken
notion to suppose that gas kills plants simply and
solely because its light disturbs their natural rest,
and prevents them from going to sleep ; a view I*
see enunciated in this month's Gossip. I very
much doubt whether gaslight has any such effect,
as its chemical action is very different to that of
sunlight, which we all know has such important
influeuce on the life of plants and the elaboration of
their food. Be that as it may, I think we must ascribe
> the destruction worked on growing plants by gas
neither to the light nor to the increased heat, but to
the deleterious products of its combustion, which,
in the absence of thorough ventilation, vitiate the
air of dwelling-rooms and render it absolutely poi-
sonous. This effect would not result to the same
extent if the gas we use were pure carbides of
hydrogen, which iu burning consume oxygen, the
product being only carbonic acid gas and watery
vapour. Oue has only to turn to Mr. Leicester's
Paper on Waste Products (p. 131), to find men-
tioned a few of the contaminations of coal gas :
these are by no means entirely got rid of in its puri-
fication; so that when at last it issues from our
burners, there are let loose, to spread destruction
and death amongst our books, pictures, and flower-
pots, to say nothing of our lungs, compounds of
sulphur, sulphuric acid, ammonia (with it may be a
little cyanide or prussic acid), and goodness knows
what besides. Moral. — All ye who cultivate win-
dow-gardening in handsomely furnished apartments,
be content with good moderator lamps, and let gas
have the landings, staircases, and servants' ofiices.
—Jas. W. White.

t Seals. — On* June 1st a seal, measuring six feet,
came into the river at Cushendun, and was fired at
by the coast-guard. It is twenty years since a seal
was seen in this locality. It was killed the same
evening at Cushendull, four miles further south, by
a coast-guard, whilst it was basking on the strand.
— S. A. Brenan, Clk., Cnshendimi co, Antrim,

192

HARDVriCKE'S SCIEKCE-GOSSIP,

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

All communications relative to advertisements, post-office
orders, and orders for the supply of this Journal, should be
addressed to the Publisher. All contributions, books,
and pamphlets for the Editor should be sent to 192,
Piccadilly, London, W. To avoid disappointment, contri-
butions should not be received later than the 15th of each
month. A'o notice whatever run he taken of communica-
tions which do not contain the name and address of the
writer, not necessarily for publication, if desired to be with-
held. We do not undertake to answer any queries not
specially connected with Natural History, in accordance
with our acceptance of that term ; nor can we answer
queries which might be solved by the correspondent by an
appeal to any elementary book on the subject. We are
always prepared to accept queries of a critical nature, and
to publish the replies, provided some of our readers, besides
the querist, are likely to be interested in them. We do not
undertake to return rejected manuscripts unless sufficient
stamps are enclosed to cover the return postage. Neither
do we promise to refer to cr return any manuscript alter
one month from the date of its receipt.

R. H. W. — We cannot insert mere lists, either of plants or
insects.

T. M. H.— Tobacco-water, or strong soap-suds, may be
advantageously used for destroying the blight on rose-trees.

A Subscriber. — Your query about lightning-conductors
does not come within our province. Inquire in the pages of
some journal devoted to mechanics or physical science.

S. A. Stewart. — The moss is Hypnum filicinum.

Will some of our courteous, but eager, correspondents,
remember the inexorable limits of space, and that it is impos-
sible to publish more than our monthly columns will allow ?
We cannot depart, except under very special circumstances,
from the rule of priority in contributions.

Rev. R. B. C— See zoological paragraph in last Science-
Gossip on " Fish building nests."

Constant.— See " Half-hours by the Sea-side," just
published. Kardwicke, 192, Piccadilly.

L. V. Hamel. — You will find all the instruction ynu need
in an article published in the February luimber of Science.
Gossip, headed, " A Simple Method for Preparing Skeleton
Leaves." We thought that as this was so recent, you must
have seen it.

W. Aldridce. — See paragraphs in present number on
drying fungi. Most of the treatment is applicable to gourds.

John Shepherd. — Any good bird-dealer will get you a
blackcap warbler.

Rev. B. B. C— See paragraph in the zoological column of
last number of Science-Gossip.

C. R. W. NuRSEY. — The supposed Foraminifer seems to
belong to the genus Dactylopora ; but your sketch shows no
pseudopodal apertures. An actual examination will be
necessary to determine its nature.

T. G. Darling.— The larva in the pear sent appears to be
that of one of the small Gall-gnats, or Midges {Cecidomyia).
Most likely it also feeds on the fruit of the hawthorn, by
which its abundance is kept up. The only plan of destroying
it would be by lighting weed fires near the trees at the time
of blossoming.

J. C. D.— Mosses: No. I, JSypnum serpens; No.2, Dict'anum
pellucidu/n.

A. P. Jones. — The specimens of mites (mounted) had all
been distributed before your application.

H. A. Allingham. — You should have sent the leaves of the
plants, as well as the flowers, both packed in wet moss. The
latter were sadly withered. No. 1 is Ajuga reptans; No 2,
Poll/gala vulgaris ; No. 3, Geranium molle ; No. 4, unidenti-
fiable.

K. D.— Your plant is cow-wheat {Melampyrum pratense) .
Bryum.— A, Sphagnum neglectum ; B, Aulacomnium
paliistre ; C, Bryum pseudotriquetrum. — B.

F. C. Fox.— The fern sent is the Bladder-fern {Cystopteris
^ragilis) .

Answers Deferred.— W. A. Luff.— C'F. \V.— G. E. X. —
H. P.— Louisa.— Edwin Smith.— W. E. Sharp.— E. T. S.— J.
Henderson, &c.

Mounted objects including rare Acarus (Aclysia Dytici;
various parasites, and other objects of interest. — Send list
W. O. Nicholson, Brigg.

Wk.ll-mounted fossil Diatomacese from Oran, Algiers, for
ditto from Mull, Bermuda, or AlgoaBay. — H. B.Thomas, 13,
Market-place, Boston.

For Dendritic spot on paper send stamped envelope and
object to G. Booth, M, Market-place, Chesterfield.

Wanted Silurian Trilobites in exchange for Carboniferous
Trilobites.— S. Barningham, Arkingarthdale, Richmond,
Yorkshire.

For seed of Antirrhinum mujus ^unmounted) send stamped
directed envelope to P. Smith, Legh Street, Warrington.

Wanted Foraminifera (mounted in balsam), also sections
of teeth (mounted). Good named^slides given iu exchange. —
E. Lovett, Holly Mount, Croydon.

Eggs or Worms of B. Cynthia offered for microscopical
slides.— S. H. Gaskell, Edgeley, Stockport.

Elaterite, Calcite, Fluor, and other Derbyshire minerals,
for foreign, Cornish, or Scotch Minerals. — Rev. J. M. Mello,
Brampton, St. Thomas's, Chesterfield.

Wanted, m exchange for a mounted specimen of larva of
Aphrophora spumaria, a Wing-case of Green Weevil, well
movmted iu balsam. — Address, sending the object and
stamped envelope, \V. Sargant, Jun., Caverswall, Cheadle,
Staffordshire.

Palates (mounted) of Helix, Limax, Patella, Buccinum,
Littorina, &c., in exchange for objects, mounted or un-
mounted.— Alfred Guthrie, Ward Road, Dundee.

Wanted, Hair of Indian Bat (mounted). Two good slides
offered iu exchange. — E. Lovett, Holly Mount, Croydon.

British Lepidoptera for Coleoptera and birds' eggs.— E. C.
Lefroy, 2, Granville Place, Blackheath, S.E.

Wanted, the fish or the skin of a Perch and Carp, for firtt-
class microscopic objects. — E. \V., 48, Tollington Road, Hol-
loway, London, N.

Wanted, a number of living specimens of the Hornet
(Vespa Crabro). Postage will be paid. Offers, if accepted,
answered iu a week. — W. D. Roebuck, 81 and 82, Briggate,
Leeds.

Foreign and British Shells in exchange for Fossils.— J. H.
Frogley, Market-place, Wantage.

Tubifer rivulortim, and spicules of Grantia' compressa
for other good mounted objects. — J. C. Hutcheson, 8, Lans-
downe Crescent, Glasgow.

A Quantity of British Birds' Eggs for exchange. A list
will be sent on application to G. C. Davies, 8, St, Andrew's
Street, Norwich.

Asbestos, mounted for polariscope, offered for other well-
mounted objects. — J. Sargent, Jun , Fritchley, near Derby.

SisvRiNCHiuM anceps. Dried and living specimens ob-
tained at Woodfard, Galway, the only known old-world
locality for very rare British plants. — R. M. Barrington,
Fassaroe, Bray, county Wicklow.

Wanted, mounted objects in exchange, or for foramini-
ferous and diatomaceous material, &c.— J. A. Perry, 42,
Spellow Lane, Liverpool.

Larv.^e of B. Cecropia and B. Cynthia, toexchange for any
good lepidopterous larvae for rearing. A. atropos preferred.
T. Shipton, Jun., 12, High Street, Chesterfield.

For spores of a Lycopodium send stamped and directed
envelope to J. H. Martin, 8d, Week Street, Maidstone.

Arenarsia uliginosa, Lathyrus tuherosus, and Nos. 17, "63,
88", 1203, S.-C. for any of the following :— Nos. 90, 307, 376,
483, 651, 863, 8;6, 942, 1049, 11 11 , or 1242.— Dr. F.Arnold
Lees, Hartlepool, Durham.

EXCHANGES.

WKLL-mounted slides for the microscope, comprising Clus-
ter-cups (JEcidium Epilobii), polariscope objects, entomolo-
gical preparations, &c., in exchange for other good spcci-
raena. List* exchanged.— J. Ford, Hamford.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

" Grevillea,'' a monthly record of Cryptogamic Botany.
No. 1.

"The Journal of Botany." July.

" Entomologists' Monthly Magazine." July.

*' Boston Journal of Chemistry."

"The American Naturalist."

"My Garden." By Alfred Smee, F.R.S. London: Bell &
Daldy.

Communications Received from— E. L.— W. S.— R. P.
— M. J.-T. B. W.— F. E. A.-W. H. P.— A. H.-E. T. S.—
B. W.-J. H. G.— K. D.— G. B.— H. B. T.-G. C. D.— T. S.—
J. F.-Dr. F. A. L.— W. O. N.— H. B.— H. J. B.— B. P. P.—
E. M. P.— A. R. G.-J. L. C— W.S.— J. H. J.— J. F.— M. A.
W.— C. J. M.— P. S.— S. B.— C. R. W. N.— C. T. J.— J. H. F.
-W. D. R.— R. Y. G.— E. R. H.— W. B. C, f<c.

HAKDWICKE'S SC lEN CE- GOS SIP.

193

COLLECTING AND PEESEEVING.

No. VIII.-FUNGI.
By Wokthington G. Smith, F.L.S.

ITIT

the fogs and
raius of autumn
the fungologist's
harvest begins. A
few fungi (large
and small) apper-
tain to the spring,
and some species
may be found in every month
of the year ; but it is not till
September has well set in, or
October is reached, that the
glut of fungi is really upon
us. Fungi may generally be
met with in abundance for
three months of the year ; viz.,
from the latter lialf of Sep-
tember till the middle of
December, the month of Oc-
tober taking pre-eminence for
producing the greatest abun-
dance of species, A season of moderate heat and
rain is the most productive, for an excessive
amount of either dryness or moisture appears to
destroy the fecundity of the mycelium, which it
must always be remembered is alive and at work
(underground) the whole of the year ; for, as a
matter of course, this year's fungi is produced from
last year's spores. These spores are set free in
autumn, and at once vegetate and form masses
of mycelium, from which next year's crop must
spring; just as the seeds of our wild annuals are
self-sown at the fall of each year and first germinate
at that season. It is a great mistake to suppose
that Agarics and Boleti wait till the leaves fall, so
that they may prey upon them ; for, as a rule, the
larger fungi never live upon the leaves of the same
year as that in \yhich they (the fungi) come up ;
fungi live upon the fallen leaves of the previous
No. 93.

autumn. The spring and summer months will some-
times prove very productive, especially after stormy
weather; but the collector must always bear in
mind that fungi, like all other things, have their
seasons. I have known the fungus-harvest quite
over by the end of August, and I have also known
it not come in before December : it depends entirely
upon a certain amount of atmospheric heat and
moisture. A damp summer and stormy August will
produce the crop at the beginning of September ;
but a dry autumn, without much rain till November,
will delay the fungus-crop till Christmas. Some
species appear regularly hcice a year from the same
mycelium ; once after the rains of March and April,
and again in October. This is the case with Copmius
atramentanus, which I have growing (originally
from spores) iu a bed of my own garden.

It is useless to go out specially to collect fungi,
either during the dry hot weather of summer or
the frosts of winter : it sometimes, however,
happens, that odd fungi may be found here and
there, in out-of-the-way places, such as the sides of
open cellars and sawpits, under bridges, on pros-
trate logs in streams, in damp outhouses, or about
old water-butts, &c. ; therefore I never go out with-
out two or three old seidlitz-powder boxes, some
thin paper, and a strong knife, in case any waifs
and strays should fall in my way. I have sometimes
found good species in a friend's dust-bin or cistern,
or upon the sides of a public-house open cellar. I
once found an agaricus on the cornice of London
Bridge, to secure which I had to get over the
parapet, and was nearly being taken into custody as
one tired of life ; another time I found a colony of
Coprinus domesticus upon a friend's scullery wall,
and a Peziza upon my brother's ceiling. Moral:
Fungologists' pockets should, at all times, contain
one or two small boxes for securing stray and
erratic members of the fungus family.

194

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE -GOS SIP.

The equipment for a fungus foray differs with the
nature of the fungi to be collected. If the plants
sought for are wholly microscopic, a small vasculum,
knife, pocket-leus, and package of thin paper will
be found sufficient ; but if Agarics, Boleti, the
larger Polyporei, &c., are to be brought home, a
more complete set of things will be required, which
sliould include a very small garden-trowel or car-
penter's gouge (any saddler or bootmaker will make
a suitable leather case for the blades for a shilling
or two), a strong knife— such as gardeners use for
pruning trees, a few sheets of thin paper, a lens,
pocket-compass, and some string. If trufiQes are
desired, a rake is necessary, and the best plan is to
carry the iron-toothed end separately in a leather
case and made to screw on to the end of a walking-
stick ; when not in use, this end can be carried in
the pocket with the trowel, &c.- It is requisite that
the vasculum be large, with straps to carry it over
the shoulders ; and the collector should be provided
with a set of cardboard boxes, large and small, to
go inside the vasculum, and to contain the more
delicate or choice spoils of the day. Leather gloves
and a thin great-coat are good things for the chilly
days of early winter — this coat should be provided
with at least four large pockets ; and, if the weather
is inclement, strong boots and waterproof leggings
will be found serviceable. An old felt hat and large
cotton umbrella are also desirable, for it is only a
piece of folly to go into the wet dripping woods
with good clothes. As for the umbrella, it should
be one of the Mrs. ©amp pattern, of good size, and
with a (removable) ring at the end furthest from
the handle, so that it may be suspended from
branches of trees, &c., whilst the fungi are sorted
or examined below, or a frugal luncheon is dis-
cussed (perhaps during a passing storm of rain).
The string will be found useful for tying up the
larger Polyporei ; these are frequently of great
size, and often weigh many pounds. In collecting,
all Agarics should be kept separate as much as pos-
sible ; for this purpose thin ^paper, such as is used
by stationers and milliners, is indispensable ; every
specimen should be wrapped very lightly in a piece
of thin paper before boxing, as the elasticity of the
paper not Only prevents breaking and bruising, but
it also prevents the spores of one species being
scattered over another. In carrying fungi about, or
sending fresh specimens from one place to another,
nothing is so good as this thin paper interspersed
here and there with fronds of the common bracken.
Sawdust, hay, or wool, should never, on any ac-
count, be used: such things totally destroy the
plants ; but with careful packing with paper and
bracken-fronds, fungi may be transported for any
distance, by rail or otherwise, perfectly intact and
undamaged. In packing the vasculum, see that the
heavier plants are at the bottom and the lighter
ones at the top ; for if packed otherwise any fragile

species will be certainly destroyed. I have known
a good collection of Agarics rendered worthless by
a loose puff-ball being placed with them, which has
rolled about with every movement of the collector's
body, and damaged big and little species alike, when
a piece of paper or a fern-frond or two, to prevent
rolling, 'would have kept all quite safe.

It is hardly necessary to specify localities, because
fungi abound everywhere. If leaf fungi are sought
for, hedge-sides will produce an abundant crop ; if
the Agaricini and Polyporei, forests and woods must
be ransacked ; if the edible species are wanted, rich
open pastures (with few exceptions) must be tra-
versed : the various species of truffles must be
looked for principally in leafy glades— many like a
calcareous subsoil, but at times they may be met
with even in hedge-sides, town parks, or 'elsewhere.

When the collection of the day is complete, no
species must be allowed to remain in the collecting-
cases all night ; for if the boxes are not carefully
opened and the contents laid out, it will probably
be found in the morning that some will have dis-
solved into an inky fluid ; others will have got into
the treacle state, whilst a third lot will be overrun
with mould, or the smaller ones perhaps entirely
eaten up by slugs or larvae. Eew things decompose
so rapidly as fungi, especially the fully-grown
Boleti : these, though apparently perfectly sound
one day, will sometimes be a horrible mass of fcetid
treacle the next. I have sometimes received large
parcels by rail or post when this horrible stinking
matter has been dripping out, perhaps all over the
carter's hands or down the postman's trousers ; for
ladies always tcill send Boleti in bonnet-boxes, tied
with thin twine. Should any extra charge be de-
manded, on the ground of the insufficiently prepaid
postage, or the parcels be unpaid, I invariably refuse
to take them in, to the disgust of the parties bring-
ing them. I shall not soon forget an ill-tempered
postman who brought me two of these dripping
treasures at the same time last autumn, with a
demand for extra postage, and his look of silent
disrelish as he walked off with one twine-suspended
bonnet-box in each hand, the fragrant Boleti-treacle
meanwhile manifesting itself upon the pavement.
Even when quite fresh, the odour of some species is
disgusting in the extreme ; for instance, a single
specimen of Phallus impudiciis in the collecting-box
will infect a whole railway-carriage with the most
horrible and sickening stench ; whilst the curious
truffle Melanogaster amhiguus is perhaps worse still
for its abominable odour is perfectly insufferable.

To dry and preserve a collection of fresh fungi is
at times a very difficult task; for instance, some
species are so entirely covered with a tenacious
gluten that if they were at once put between
drying-papers, it is certain they would never come
out again with the least chance of being recognized
by even the most acute fungologist ; others are so

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

195

deliquescent that in an hour or two they would dis-
solve into a watery mass, soak through all the
paper, and leave a mere dirty stain between the
sheets where the plant was originally placed. As a
contrast, some of the Polyporei (as the young state
of Folyporus igniarius) are so hard that nothing
but a steam-hammer would have any chance of
flatteningjthem. There is considerable difficulty in
ridding the plants from the larvaj with which they
are often infested. A few drops of the oil of tur-
pentine will, however, generally drive them from
Agarics and other fleshy fungi ; and, in regard to
the woody Polyporei, a good plan is to place the
plants in an oven, or on a hob for a short time,
where the heat is not too powerful to destroy the
plants, but still sufficiently potent to drive the
larvae from their holes. If this is not done, the col-
lector's experience will probably be the same as
mine has more than once been ; viz., on opening a
package (which should contain some choice dried
fungus), to find only a stain, a few skins of dead
maggots, and a little dirt— in fact, some of the
species in my herbarium, though mostly poisoned
with corrosive sublimate, get entirely devoured
by rapacious and poison-proof larvae, mites, and
minute beetles.

In addition, however, to the mere drying, certain
notes and particulars are required, without which
the best dried specimens are worthless ; and, again,
for the larger fungi to be of real service, the spores
of each species must be separately preserved. As
regards the drying of the fleshy fungi themselves,
the process to observe is as follows :— Lay all ordi-
nary Agarics out separately in a dry place, or in a
current of dry air from six to twelve, or even twenty-
four hours, according to the species, so that they
may part with their superfluous moisture, and thus
facilitate drying. In the case of species with
glutinous pilei, it will be found that the gluten will
more or less set, if carefully attended to, in a dry,
warm place. If the larger fleshy fungi are inadver-
tently placed under a propagating-glass, or left on
a lawn or grassy place, or kept in damp air from
over-night till next morning, the chances are that
they will never properly dry at all. When the
superfluous moisture has evaporated they may be
put gently between drying-papers, but the weight
put upon them must at first be of the slightest
kind ; ordinary books, more or less light, will be
found quite sufficient ; and few, or perhaps no other
plants, require such frequent changing as Agarics.
An hour, or often less, suffices for the first pressure,
when care must be taken to supply them with fresh
and perfectly dry paper, or they will immediately
mould. It is a good plan, when the plants are half
dry, to take them out of the papers and put them in
dry air, or in a sunny place for a short time (the
length of time being determined by experience and
the nature of the species), to part with more of

their moisture : so, with constant attention and
frequent olianging of the papers, very presentable
specimens may at last be obtained. These dried
fungi will now be found very useful for showing the
more superficial characters of the plants ; but with,
out sections, spores, and proper notes, they will be
next to useless. In Agarics it is of the first import-
ance to show the nature of the attachment of the
gills to the stem : and should the stem be furnished
with a volva or annulus, this must be preserved
with the greatest care — young specimens, too, in
different stages of growth, are often of great value .

Fig. 121. Specimens showing the ffills, rings, and stages
of growth.

If possible, it is well to have a series of dried speci-
mens of each species, one as in fig. 121 : A will
display the nature of the tubes in Boletus and the
gills [in the Agaricini, whether they are thick or
thin, crowded together or distant from each other,
plain or serrated, free or adnexed ; another, as at
B, to show the pileus, whether smooth or floccose,
plain, warted, or zoned, and the nature of the
margin, whether striate, bullate, or plain ; a third,
as at C, to show the attachment of pileus to stem
in infancy ; and, fourthly, a section or thin slice re-
moved from the exact middle of the young plant from
top to bottom, as at D : this will show the nature
of the veil (if present), and whether universal or not ;
and if absent, whether the margin is at first straight,
incurved, or involute.^ A similar section through the
mature plant is also required, E and F (fig. 122) :
this will give the attachment of gills to stem (a
character of great importance), and the nature of
the stem itself, whether solid, stuffed, or hollow.
Great care and experience is required to cut a thin

k2

196

HARDWICKE'S SCI E N CE-GO S S IP.

and perfect slice from tlie middle of a tender Agaric
or Boletus ; for there is often a sort of articulation
at the point G, which causes the slice to fall in two.
As for preserving fungi in fluids, [ thnik it in all

Fig:. 122. Section cut througli Agaricus.

ways undesirable. It may more or less answer for
single or unique specimens, or for large museums,
where space is of no consequence ; but for all pur-
poses of constant reference and private study, any
process of this sort is worthless. Few persons, I
imagine, would care to have hundreds (or I might
say thousands) of tolerably large glass bottles of
fluids in their houses. It is essential that the
spores should be secured, as their colour and size is
very important. They may be preserved in various
ways : if coloured, they are best kept on white
paper, and if white, on black glazed paper, such as
is supplied to photographers; or they may be at once
deposited and kept on glass slides and covered, or
between thin sheets of mica, also such as photo-
graphers use. I prefer the spores free on paper.

Fig. 123.

as they can easily be transferred to glass for exami-
nation by breathing on a corner of a glass slide and
just touching it on to the dry spores ; thousands
will attach themselves to the glass, and, moreover,
the supply from one fungus appears to be perfectly
inexhaustible. To secure a good batch of spores, it
is not sufiicient to let the Agaric merely rest in the
position shown at H (fig. 123), for the spores will
not properly fall when this plan is adopted ; a far
better one is to cut a small hole, about the size of
the diameter of the stem of the fungus, in the
centre of the paper on which the spores are to be
deposited : slip the stem through the hole, carefully
draw up the paper collar, and support the fungus in
a small pot, glass, or dry iiliial, and placed under u
propagating-glass to keep the plant fresh, as shown

li

Fig. 124.

Agaric placed to

catch spores.

in fig. 121. If it is wished to fix the spores, let the
paper be first washed with a thin solution of gum-
arabic, which must get perfectly dry : the spores
can now fall upon the dry gummed paper, and
after the deposition the gummed surface must be
breathed upon to moisten the gum,
and when it has dried for the second
time the spores will be fixed, and
not readily rubbed off.

It is necessary to prepare the
woody specimens in a different
manner. They must first be per-
fectly dried before the fire, or in
the sun, and then a thin slice must
be sawn (or cut with a powerful
knife) out of the middle. This
slice may be poisoned, as described
hereafter, and mounted on the
herbarium sheets at once. If the
Polyporus is very thin, it may be
mounted in company with the slice,
but more than one specimen is
desirable, as it is indispensable to
have both surfaces handy for ex-
amination. If the specimens are very large, they are
best kept in wooden boxes, and labelled according
to the genera and sub-genera they contain; or they
may be kept in drawers, the drawers being divided
by partitions if large, and labelled outside. If boxes
are used, they should all be the same depth ; the
height and width may be doubled or halved, ac-
cording to the nature of the plants : the plan will
be better understood by reference to the diagram,
fig. 125. If this plan is adopted, there will be no
waste space, and the boxes will stand evenly upon a
sideboard or against a wall.

Before the specimens are transferred to the
herbarium they may or not be poisoned, according
to the wish or convenience of the collector. Some
of my plants that have never been poisoned remain
perfectly uninjured, whilst others, which have been
treated with a strong solution of corrosive subli-
mate, have been devoured by larva;, &c., introduced,
I presume, since the plants were put away, A
solution of corrosive sublimate in pyroligneous
naphtha, carefully washed over the specimens, has
been recommended ; but the ordinary poison is oil
of turpentine, mixed with finely-powdered subli-
mate, well shaken before applied. If the specimens
are to be glued down, they should be mounted as
shown in figs. 121 and 122, and fixed with poisoned
gum tragacanth, so as to display all their characters;
but some botanists, and myself amongst the num-
ber, prefer to have the specimens free. For this
purpose I have envelopes gummed to the herbarium
sheets, and the specimens (including a small paper
containing the spores) are free within the envelopes.
If the spores arc free upon smaller papers they
cannot be poisoned. Some mites arc very fond of

ilAKDWlCKE'S, SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

1U7

the spores of certain species, wliilst they will not
touch the spores of others : therefore, if they are to
be kept perfectly intact, gummed paper must be
used, or they may be kept between little slips of

Fig. 125. Cabinet for Fungi.

mica. As to the labelling of the herbarium sheets,
I shall not touch upon that, as the plan universally
followed is similar to the one used for flowering
plants. Some sub-genera of Agarieus, however (as
Tricholoma), are so numerous in species that it will
be found requisite to have several wrappers for one
sub-genus.

Now as to the necessary notes to be made on the
sheets : the points in discriminafiug fungi differ con-
siderably from those used in naming flowering plants.
It°is presumed the spores have been preserved by the
collector. Now, if he has time, the next best thing
is to measure and note them at once, in decimals of
an inch and millimetre ; a second and essentia! thing
is a note as to the taste of the fungus, whether it
is mild, acrid, bitter, &c. This point will be found
very useful, as some species are tasteless, insipid,
or extremely acrid, bitter, or poisonous : it is only
necessary to taste a small piece ; but as so little is
really known of the qualities of fungi, unless this
is done no advance will be made. I invariably
taste every fungus new to me, and have notes to
this effect of all the species which have passed
through my hands : in some species the effect is
very peculiar, sometimes (as in Agarieus vielleiis) it
causes a cold sensation at the back of the ears, and
swelling of the throat ; at others (as in Marasmius
caulic'malis), the taste proves to be intensely bitter ;
some are so fiery (as in Lactarhis turpis, hiennius,
and acris), that the smallest piece placed upon the
tongue resembles the contact of a red-hot poker.
Often, when I have been out botanizing with young

men and amateurs, when a dubious Rnssula or Lac-
tarius has been shown me!to name, I have req\iested
the inquirer to tastelit, as, if mild or pungent, the
taste might at times decide the species ; I have gene-
rally found, however, that though certain persons
are' anxious enough to acquire names, they will not
burn their tongues to secure them. No fungi that
I am acquainted with are really pleasant raw, unless
it .is llydimm gelati/iosum, though many arc very
good when cooked. A very important thing to note
is the odour in the larger fungi; many are very
pleasant, like meal ; a few are sweet ; several resem-
ble cucumber (as Agarieus eucumis), one mice (as
A. incajius) ; another stinking fish ; whilst Maras.
miusfcetidus and impudieus are like putrid carrion ;
others are like burnt flannel, garlic, rotten beans,
and almost every imaginable disagreeable thing.
The habitat is of great importance : if the plant
grows upon trees, the tree should be named ; or if
parasitic upon any other material, the matrix
should be named with the place. The viscidity^
dryness, or bibulosity must be given, and in the
Agarieini, any notes that may suggest themselves
as to the presence or absence of a veil, volva, or
trama, and whether the gills lave a habit of sepa-
rating from the .stem, as at J (fig. 122), niust be
carefully noted.

The study of the larger fungi has been to me one
of the greatest pleasures of my life : when all things
else have failed, this has never failed ; it has taken
me into the pleasantest of places, and amongst the
best of people. Had it not been for fungi, I should
Lave" been dead years ago; often tired, jaded,
and harassed with business matters, a stroll in the
rich autumn woods has given me a renewed lease
of life. In these favourite haunts I never tire
or flag ; rain, fog, and mud never detract from
the pleasures of the woods to me— I am only de-
pressed in the hot, dry weather of midsummer. In
the autumn I constantly visit the forests, with all
my collecting paraphernalia ; I sometimes take a
saw to cut off the big, woody, fungous excrescences
of trees. I was once fortuuate enough to find a
ladder in a wood, which proved invaluable for as-
cending the beeches in search of Agarieus mucidus,
&c. I, however, find fungi everywhere : I only go
round the corner, and there they are. I often visit
a neighbouring builder's yard, and descend the saw-
pits, to the amazement of the operatives ; some of
the rarest species of our Florn, and many new ones,
I have found within a few minutes' walk of my own
house. I once found a rare Lentinus on a log as it
was being carted down King William Street, and a
year or so ago an undescribed Feziza flourished
inside my cistern.

Collecting fungi is not without its humours as
well as its pleasures, as the following will show.
I once saw a portly, well-dressed gentleman walking
along the high road, with his vasculum over his

198

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE-GOSSIP.

shoulders, aud carrying home (one in each hand) a
pair of cast-off, rotten boots, discarded by some
vagrant; the rotting leather having produced a
crop of rare microscopic fungi. At times abomi-
nable cast-off foetid gipsy rags will be lovingly taken
from out a ditch, and choice pieces cut out and con-
signed to the vasculum of the cryptogaraic bota-
nist ; at other times some rare species will be seen
"up a tree," and it has several times happened
in my presence that one enthusiastic botanist has
got on to the shoulders of another to secure a prize,
or even waded into a pond to get at some prostrate
fungus-bearing log. The humours of truffle-hunting
are manifold. I have seen a gentleman trespass, on
hands aud knees, through a holly hedge, on to a
gentleman's lawn, aud there dig up the turf in some
promising spot, risking an attack from the house-
dog, or a few shots from the proprietor; the said
gentleman meanwhile armed with a rake, gouge, and
.iangerous -looking open knife. Countiy labourers
are often sorely puzzled by the acts of cryptogamic
botanists : they stand agape in utter amazement to
witness poisonous "frog-stools" bagged by the
score. Ofttimes one gets warned that the plants
are "deadly pisin;" but collectors are usually
looked upon as harmless lunatics, a climax gene-
rally being reached if a gentleman in search of
Ascoboli and the dung-borne Peziza, sits down, and
after making a promising collection of horse or
cow-dung, carefully wraps these treasures in tissue-
paper, aud puts them in his " sandwich-box."

One word of warning to the beginner — never, on
any account, amass and put away a lot of imperfect
materials with : insufficient notes, for in the end
they will prove worse than useless. To name fungi
with certainty the fullest notes and most complete
materials are indispensable : without these nothing
whatever can be done. It is far better to labori-
ously make out twenty species, and know them in
all their aspects for certain, than to amass imper-
fect materials of two thousand without any sound
botanical knowledge. If the former course is pur-
sued, the study of fungi will prove a never-failing
source of pleasure to the mind and of health to the
body.

In conclusion, I cannot do better than quote a
few words written by the illustrious Fries (now
seventy-eight years of age) in the preface to a
recent work of his on Fungi, he says : " Now, in
the evening of my life, I rejoice to call to mind the
abundant pleasures which my study of the more
perfect fungi, sustained for more than half a century,

has throughout this long time afforded mc

Therefore, to botanists, who can wander at will the
country side, I commend the study of these plants
as a perennial fountain of delight, and of admi-
ration for that Supreme Wisdom which reigns over
universal nature."

12, North Grove West, Mildmay Park, N.

THE IRISH NIGHTINGALE.

TU"HAT is that shy, sprightly little bird which
' ' swings so curiously from yonder giant bul-
rush, its coal-black crest perkily raised, its throat
throbbing in passionate song ? On he darts before
us, springing from reed to reed, the white streaks
on his inky tail flashing in light as he dives through
the tufted sedge ; a second lost to sight, up he
starts again, again bursts forth in unwearied song ;
haunting our path, he wiles us from the nest where
all his joys are centred. What a restless little fellow
it is ! Many a time have I watched him both by
night and day ; always on the move, he floods out
his sweet inward melody. Little matters it to him
whether the sun is in the zenith, or the pale chill
moon alone casts a path of light across his sedgy
home, he always sings — at least such is my expe-
rience of him, — and if by chance he should be
silent, a stone thrown into the water will at once
arouse him, and his note, answered by a hundred
others, fills the night with music.

He is our only night-singer, "the Irish Night-
ingale," as he is called by fishermen along the Boyne.
"Jenny-Blackcap" is another popular name for
him ; but what his real name is I am at a loss to
find.

Is he the veritable Blackcap {Jtricapilla of Ray)
of whose song naturalists speak so highly ? White,
in his "Natural History of Selborne," in speaking
of this bird, says, " he is superior to any song-bird
we have, the Nightingale excepted." The wild
sweetness of his note always brings to my mind
those lines in a song iu " As You Like It :" —

" And tune his merry note
Unto the wild bird's throat."

Another eminent naturalist of the present day
describes him as the sweetest and richest of song-
birds, while in trilling he excels every songster of
the grove. Yet the Blackcap is never spoken of as
being " a song-bird of night," which the Passer arun-
dinaceus minor, or Lesser Rccd-spairow, is known
to be.

The Blackcap builds his nest in tufts of grass ;
so does the bird I write of, though sometimes his
nest is to be found slung from four or five reeds
woven together.

The Blackcap frequents orchards and gardens,
feeding on insects and fruit ; " the Irish bird " is to
be found there too, though more generally seen by
the banks of rivers aud low ground.

Book descriptions of the plumage of birds are so
imperfect, that it is hard to judge anything from
their source ; but the Blackcap is always given a
black crest, while the Reed-sparrow, or Hedge-war-
bler, is never given one, as far as I can ascertain,
except by Bewick, who calls it the Black-headed
Bunting. Now the Irish Nightingale has a decidedly

HARDWICKE'S SCIEW CE-GOSSIP.

199

black crest, which he can elevate and depress.
Another remarkable feature is the ring of white
round the throat, which gives a marked appearance
to this bird, so as to make him easily distinguish-
able ; the two outer feathers of the tail are also
white, and show in high relief when the tail is
extended in flight ; the general tone of the bodj-
feathers is greyish-brown, with a dash of green
about the wing. He is a small, graceful bird, and
sways himself about while singing, his throat throb-
bing as if it would burst ; his note is a soft, sweet,
guttural trill, which he continues unceasingly all
night long. He is much valued as a cage-bird ; but
it is very hard to get one, it being impossible to
keep an old bird in confinement, as they pine away
when the season of migration comes round, and it
is very difficult to find the nest, as the parent birds
will never go near it while any one is in sight. A
guinea can be obtained for a nest of healthy young
ones, and boys are on the look-out for tliem all
through the breeding season.

The Irish Nightingale is, like the Blackcap, a
migratory bird, leaving us about the middle of
September, and returning again in April.

Leprahaun.

THE SQUIRHEL AS A NEST-EOBBER.

I TAKE pleasure in corroborating ^Ii". Grantley
F. Berkeley's statements concerning the habits
of squirrels, as to their fondness for eggs. It is
well known on this side of the Atlantic, that small
birds are scarce just in proportion as the squirrels
are numerous. During the present spring, I have
been on the look-out for the nests of certain war-
blers, and twice instances of the Squirrel (Sciurus
migratorius) devouring crows' eggs have come to
my notice. In each case my attention was attracted
by the squirrel overhead, dropping, instead of frag-
ments of nut-shell, small bits of mottled green
egg-shell, which could be readily recognized. I
patiently waited until the (igg was devoured, and
then watched the future movements of the thief.
After licking his paws a moment, and apparently
surveying the neighbourhood, he slipped from one
bough to another, with an occasional leap to an
adjoining tree, until he reached a large elm over-
hanging the Crossweeksen Creek. Far up in the
top of the tree he clambered, and presently a crow
" gave tongue " in a manner that brought her good
mate and comrades {Quiscali) ad iufinitum. Fortu-
nately, a break in the branches enabled me to see
the modus o;perundi of the squirrel. He scrambled
along the under side of the branches, successfully
dodging the " dips" of the crows ; and when within
a foot or more of the nest, leaped in and out, but
seizing an ^%^ in his mouth as he did so, like a
flash, and dodged the crows and smaller birds as he

descended the tree, keeping, on the retreat, as on
the advance, as much as possible on the under side,
of the branches. If Mr. George Cox, who wrote
in Science-Gossip for 1871, p. 237, could have
seen the adroitness displayed by our grey squirrel
in robbing a crow's nest, he would not wonder why
pheasants allowed the robbery of their eggs by the
British squirrel. I have never seen your squirrel
in his native haunts, but do affirm that our grey
chap could " bamfoozle " even your pheasant, pro-
vided the nest of the bird was in a ti-ee, and on
branches that would give the nimble-footed fellow
any chance at all to hold on. The destruction of
birds' nests by squirrels became so prevalent in the
public squares in Philadelphia, that "the autho-
rities," preferring the birds, were compelled to rid
the "city's lungs" of the innumerable squirrels
that had been carefully protected for many years.

Charles C. Abbott.
Trenton, New Jersey, United States.

THE PRESERVATION OF LARV^.

TN the July number of Science-Gossip it was
-*- stated that the larvae in public collections are
preserved by professionals, who keep their mode of
doing it secret. Seeing this, I am led to think that
a few words on the preservation of larvae would
not be unacceptable to some of our entomological
readers. It is not unnatural that professionals
should be desirous of keeping their knowledge to
themselves, and until recently few others knew how
to presei've larvae.

At the commencement of the present year I was
favoured with some instruction upon the subject,
and I may add that I am now able to preserve
almost any of our larvae, so that they look perfectly
life-like.

The apparatus required for the purpose is very
simple: — First, a blowpipe; and one suitable to
the purpose is best made by melting the end of a
piece of glass tubing with an ordinary blowpipe,
drawing out the end when pliant, and breaking off
the small piece at the point which is solid. Next
let two pieces of watch-spring be procured, each
about five or six inches in length. These being bent
at right angles about |th of an inch from the end,
should be fastened to the glass blowpipe, as shown
in' fig. 126. A spirit-lamp, and for an oven a small
tin box, or, better still, a wide-necked glass bottle
with a stand to support it, will be all that is re-
quired. Fig. P-27 shows these as they should be
arranged for use. Having killed the larva by
placing it in the cyanide bottle, proceed to divest'it
of its internal organs ; and this should be done by
forcing them through the anal orifice with the fore-
finger and thumb, between two pieces of stoutish
blotting-paper. This done, fasten it to the blow-

200

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

pipe, as shown in fig. 126, the two pieces of spring

which press against the point of the blowpipe

'holding tlie smallest portion possible of the crea-

Bb

A

Fig. 126. Blowpipe attached to Larva.

ture's skin : then inflate the larva and hold it in the
oven (fig. 127), which should be previously well

Fig. 127. Showing mode of Preserving'.

heated. The larva should be kept blown out whilst
drying, but not so much so as to give to the animal

an unnatural appearance, to prevent which they are
often steeped iu a solution of alum for a short time
prior to being operated upon. Two or three minutes
at the outside will suffice to dry the larva, which
may then be removed as finished ; but should it be
such a larva as that of the Privet Hawk-moth
{S. ligustri), it will turn brown after being thus
treated, and artificial colouriug should be employed.
I have seen one of these which had emerald-greeu
puffed into it; and had it been placed beside a
living specimen, it would have been difficult to
distinguish the one from the other. Only green
larvaj such as this will require much pains bestowed
upon them, as the majority of the others will retain
their natural appearance very well without being
artificially coloured. Larva; such as that of the
Goat-moth (C. ligniperda) will be the least difficult
to preserve ; those of the Puss-moth (C. vinula)
preserve well, and from their peculiar shape have a
very quaint appearance. The larvaj of the Gold-
tailed moth (Z). auriflua) are perhaps the prettiest;
but I strongly advise the inexperienced to use a
pair of gloves iu handling them, or he may turn
rather red about the neck and eyes, as if stung by
nettles, and, speaking from experience, I can assure
him that the pain is quite as bad, if not worse,

"With a little patience the entomologist will find
himself able to preserve larvae well, and thus be
enabled to possess the larva, as well as the pupa
and ovum, of each imago. H. A. Auld.

NEW BOOKS.*

A LTHOUGH so far distant from the " reading
-^^ season," we cannot complain of the scarcity
of new books and new editions, and those of a
valuable character. The first on our list may seem
scarcely in keeping with the scope and character of
our magazine, but in it the student will find a mass
of anecdotes, traditions, &c., all of which more or
less bear on zoological and botanical folk-lore.
The science of comparative mythology — that which
traces the vague traditions and myths of all nations
to a common source — is one of the most modern,
and at the same time the most fascinating. To
find the fairy and goblin tales of our childhood
possessing a mythological significancy is indeed
rather startling. Some of the most learned thinkers
and scholars of our time are engaged in collecting
the disjointed and scattered facts, and combining
them into a clear; and incontrovertible story.

* " Traditions, Superstitions, and Folk-Lore ; their Eastern
Origin and Mythical Significance. " By Charles Hardwick.
London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co.

"The Scientific and Profitable Culture of Fruit Trees."
From the French of M. Du Breuil. Loudon: Lockwood
& Co.

"The Insect World." By Louis Figuier. A New Edition.
London : Cassell, Petter, & Galpin.

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

201

Among them we may name Max Miiller, Cox,
Baring-Gould, Tylor, Kelly, and others. Mr. Hard-
wick's book is a contribution to the same general
subject, based chiefly on the folk-lore of Lan-
cashire and the northern counties. It displays an
intimate knowledge of the author's topic, and a
loving acquaintance with English literature. JNIore-
over, it is pleasantly and charmingly written, in most
excellent English, and there pervades in every page
an earnestness which shows what importance he
attaches to it. ^YG have read it through carefully
and profitably, and cordially hope all its readers
will enjoy the same pleasure as ourselves.

Du Brcuil's work on the " Scientific Culture of
Emit Trees" is already well and favourably known,
and every horticulturist will be glad to see it
translated into English. It has also had the ad-
vantage, whilst being prepared for us in our native
tongue, of being superintended by two able and
practical gardeners. This second edition has been
revised, and is prefaced by a short introduction by
George Glenny. The illustrations are numerous,
and such as will be of advantage to amateur gar-
deners, and the whole book is got up iu a tasteful
style.

The work of M.Eiguicr has been before the world
some lime, and the opinion of naturalists upon it is
generally known. This edition is smaller and more
portable than the former, and like it is embellished
with a large number of ably-executed woodcuts.
As it has come out under the revision and correc-
tion of Professor Duncan, it is shorn of a good
many of tlic startling incidents and attempts at
the marvellous which characterize Eiguicr's books.
Embracing the general history of insects all over
ihc world, many portions of tlicir description are
necessarily very meagre.

THE INSTINCTS OE ANTS.

EVEN a mere casual observer must sometimes
be struck with the apparent fact that these
little insects have the faculty of communicating
with each other, and conveying special information
concerning their own welfare or requirements, and
also the sense of reasoning to a very surprising
degree, which enables them to meet certain diffi-
culties as they occur.

If some moistened sugar be placed near the nest
of the small black garden ant, a solitary straggler
will soon accidentally discover it; he imbibes his
own load, and finds his way to the nest with infor-
mation : speedily a number of others emergf^, make
straight for the sugar, and continue to pass to and
fro in the most sedate and business-like manner till
the whole of the provender is conveyed to the nest.
Their behaviour is very different in the case of live
prey. If a small caterpillar is placed in their way,

one or two will at once attack it ; but if they find
they are not strong enough to master it, one will
sometimes run away into the nest and give the
alarm. Numbers of them then come rushing out to
the rescue in great anger and excitement, which
subsides the moment their prey is slaughtered
of which the majority take no further heed, but
leave only one or two to drag the carcass home-
wards. I once emptied out a sac of spider's eggs
(taken from a neighbouring rose-bush) near to an
ants' nest. These were speedily discovered, but
were evidently a kind of provision that they had
never been accustomed to, for many, in endeavouring
to carry them away, grasped them so hard as to
break the shell, and they had to stop to devour the
contents then and there. This accident frequently
happened at first, but they speedily learned to
handle them carefully and carry them without
breaking them ; and many times afterwards I fed
this colony with spider's eggs, which were removed
without a single case of breakage, as they perfectly
well remembered the nature of the provision that
they had to deal with.

But the staple food of this species of ant is
" honeydew," which is a secretion forcibly ejected
from the two tubes on the backs of numerous
species of aphides. The ants lick this off the sur-
face of the leaves where it has been cast, but they
mostly prefer obtaining it direct from the aphides
themselves, which they cherish and protect with
the most zealous care, evidently considering them
as their flocks and herds. This is a well-known
fact. But on one occasion I happened to observe,
under the curled-up leaves at the top of the twig of
a currant-bush, an immense number of aphides as
usual under their charge, and guarded by a dozen
or so of ants. Two common "ladybirds " were also
there, devouring the aphides iu spite of the efforts
of the ants to prevent it, who displayed the greatest
anger by springing on the backs of the robbers and
trying to get hold of their legs on either side. At
every attempt the ladybirds coolly tilted their
impenetrable eli/ira from side to side, so as to leave
no room beneath for the assault, and, with antennae
drawn in, continued their meal with perfect im-
punity. While watching this amusing scene, a
prowling earwig made its way up the stalk (earwigs
are great destroyers of aphides). It thrust half its
body under the leaves, and after eating one or two
was speedily discovered, but proved no match for
the ants, who, attacking its legs and antennae, soon
compelled it to beat an inglorious retreat, hotly
pursued by several of the ants. During the night
there came a heavy shower of rain, and a day or so
afterwards I stepped out of the path to see how the
ants and their charge were progressing. Much to
my surprise, I found that they had carried up par-
ticles of wet loam, and plastered and built up every
external opening between the leaves in a most

202

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

substantial manner, leaving only a small entrance
beneath : in this manner keeping out all intruders,
and inclosing the aphides entirely for their own
benefit. The twig in question was near a yard high
from the ground, and, as if the colony retained some
recollection of their clever piece of work, exactly
the same thing was done on this currant-bush the
succeeding year.

It might perhaps be argued that there was no
special design or intention in this, considering the
building instincts of ants ; but this year I observed
an incident relating to them that surprised me still
more : — In an inclosed orchard, at the root of a
small plum-tree partly decayed in the trunk, there
was a nest or colony of ants, wliich evidently mostly
depended upon the tree for provisions, as there
were abundance of aphides amongst the leaves. A
string of ants constantly passed up and down, the
ascending ones empty, and the descending ones so
inflated that their bodies appeared transparent. A
few sheep were then turned into the orchard to eat
down the grass. These animals sadly disturbed the j
poor ants by making a rubbing-post of the tree, [
coating the bark with filaments of wool, which j
interfered with the passage of the ants, many of :
which were also probably destroyed, and but few !
had the courage to venture up. Some time after
this I looked again, without seeing a single ant on I
the stem of the tree. Observing a fissure halfway
down, I noticed a large quantity of fine particles of
rotten wood, looking like snufi", had been thrown
out, and at the bottom of the cavity I perceived a
regiment of ants passing up and down. I then
found that in the fork of the tree, where a small
branch had been sawn oft" and got rotten at the
core, that they bad made a passage through, having
thrown out more particles of touchwood. They had
no visible exit at the bark of the tree, but made
their way to the nest through some unseen channel
in the root. During the recent rains the former
entrance to the nest has become filled up, and they
do not seem disposed to open it again : therefore^
the only entrance to their home is some five feet up
in the tree, which they now avail themselves of in
perfect security and comfort, passing in and out in
great numbers.

I state this as I have witnessed it, an existing
fact, without having the boldness to assert, that
finding the road outside the tree no longer safe or
practicable, they should cause their engineers to
make a survey, and who decided that the core of
the tree was sufiiciently soft and rotten to enable
them to work a tunnel through, which, from the
quantity of debris thrown out, must have cost a
great amount of labour. If so, it is very marvellous
that these little insects should be gifted with a
degree of sagacity, almost amounting to a reasoning
faculty, that many large quadrupeds do not possess.

E. H. Weniiam.

"MY GARDEN."*

A" TOUR round my Garden " has already
appeared in French garb, but it was left to
an Englishman to work out the idea perfectly.
Shenstone the poet had first constructed a garden
in which new scenes of beauty were always meeting
the eye, and then had immortalized his attempts in
classic verse. But Mr. Smee has shown the world
what a treasure of picturesque beauty, of botanical,
zoological, geological, and general knowledge, may
be obtained in a plot of ground of less than eight
acres. In turning over the voluminous work be-
fore us, with its one thousand two hundred and fifty
woodcuts and plates, one is literally astonished at
the faculty which can produce so much out of what
appears so little. The estate in question is situate
in the hamlet of Wallington, on the banks of the
river Wandle, in Surrey. Its owner, and the author
of the present work, first introduces us to a brief
sketch of the parish in the Celtic, Roman, Anglo-
Saxon, and mediaeval periods; after which to a
period far older than any of these, when "the
Geology of my Garden" was commenced. The
geological sketch is ably and experientially done ;
for when Mr. Smee first entered upon the land of
his garden, he could not walk across it, on account
of its being so boggy. Since then drainage and
section-cutting has gone on, and as good a know-
ledge of geology obtained as pulling about a plot
of eight acres could bestow. Situated on the edge
of the London basin, all the lower tertiary beds
come up in the neighbourhood, although the fossils
are chiefly from the chalk. Many of these are

Fig. 128. Fig. 129, Fio;. 130.

Pseudo-diadema Polypnthccia Sptindylm

variolare. (Cup-shaped Sponge). spinosus.

figured, and amongst them are the above illus-
trations of the characteristic and commoner fossils.
The author states that his sou has extensively
examined the law of the deposit of silex on decom-
posing animal matter; and, as Mr. A. H. Smee
(the gentleman alluded to) has a fair reputation as

• "My Gardea: its Plan and Culture: togetlier with a
general Description of its Geology, Botany, and Natural
History." By Alfred Smee, F.R.S. London : BeU & Daldy.

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE-GOSSIP.

203

a chemist, his conclusions on this point are worth
attention. " Some organic bodies," he says, " ap-
pear to silicify with ease, others with difficulty. A
sponge throws down silex readily. He has been
able to silicify a blood-corpuscle so perfectly that
when incinerated and its animal matter destroyed,
it showed its structure. Bones do not appear to
throw down silex readily."

The reader will linger with pleasure over the
chapter devoted to the " General Plan of my Gar-
den," as he feels that here the greatest labour of
the author was bestowed. There he learns of
ferneries, alpineries, &c., and is assisted in liis com-
prehension by most charmingly- executed plates of
spots that might serve for copies to " Eairies'
Dells," or " Wood-Nymphs' Grottos," in the Christ-
mas pantomimes. Mr. Smee's object was (after so
laying out his gardenias to obtain the greatest
amount of picturesque effect) to have such plants,
native and foreign, as would be in bloom the whole
year round. The greater number of woodcuts is
devoted to the illustration of the favourites ; and,
coming from the pencil of Mr. Worthiugton Smith,
they are gems of wood-cutting art, as the following
examples will show.

Fig, 131. Variegated Pink.

flourishes to the exclusion of hundreds of little
gems which should have their place in the garden
of every lover of natural objects." Our sympathies
are with him also when he condemns the common
fashion of making rose-trees look " like a mop, with

Fig. 132. Coreopsis tinctoria.

We cordially agree with the author in denouncing
the common practice of gardeners confining all
their floral efforts to crowding one particular
summer month with flowers, to their exclusion
the rest of the year. " At the present time all
gardens look alike ; the inevitable scarlet geranium

Fig. 133. Dianthus ckincnsts,

Fig. 131. Mimvlus.

the handle stuck in the ground ! " This is termed
a " standard," and is about as ugly a form as art
can twist nature into. Instead of this, Mr. Smee
trains his rose-trees into a pyramidal form, four to
six feet high, one far more elegant, and which,
when adorned by the "Queen of flowers," is a
most charming object. He states: "I think that
no one who saw my pyramids would ever tliink of
growing standards again."

We have frequently come across excellent bota-
nists whose horticult ural knowledge was ridiculously
small. Nay, there are few good English botanists
who appear to care about '■' garden plauts." Many
of these, however, are of a most curious nature, and
well illustrate the flora of other lands and the
physical circumstances, extending over long periods
of time, which have caused organic forms to be so
modified as to assume their often outlandish nature.

Fig. 135. Darlingtuiiia Californica,

Eig. 135 is one of these, one of the fly-catchingplants,
having hairs in the middle of the tube, so arranged
that when the flies get in they cannot escape.

204

IIARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

Cephalotus is a bog-plant, like Venus's fly-trap,
which has grown well out of doors in "My Garden."
Of course, in a work like the present, most of the
leading varieties of roses are figured, as indeed are

several others. Aneectochilus argeuteus has perhaps
the most beautiful leaf of any known plant. Mr.

Fij. 136. Ci'ph(i!(jtus/n!!ici(liii-is.

also thosc of garden fruit. One might object that
occasionally tlie illustrations have run riot, as when
the author gives, what " Mrs. Lirriper " would
have called, the "portraits" of his garden -roller,
watering-cans, &c. ! His cuts of the most important
of the curious orchids are very interesting, and
among tlicin there occur Brassia, and a group of

Fig. 137. Bransia mavu'ata.

Smee tells us that all the above arc difficult to
cultivate, although two species grow with him iu
the greatest luxuriance.

Fip. 138. 1. Anacfiichltus ufgi'iileiis, Virazil : 2. A. I.owii, V.ovnco ; 3. A. '.ifdiinia ; 4. A. pi:t(t{u, Jn\ti ;
5. A. xiinlfinp/ii//lti, Ceylon; (i. A. ur^eiiteii:! pirtus, Brazil; /. A. setaueus inter medius, Ceylon ;
8. A. Veitchii, Java; 9. A, Dawsoniunus, East Indies; 10. A. setacins, Ceylon.

Nor is the English " Elower-gardeu " less repre-
sented by some of our most beautiful native flower-
ing plants. Many of these occur in what the author
has called, with some indifference to etymological
combination, his " Alpinery." This is constructed
on a small mound near the "Fern-glcn," and in the
fibrous loam and stones alpine plants seem to
flourish. It is so arranged that " there is scarcely
any time of the year when some lovely object may

not be found " in blossom. Another like unto it is
termed the " Saxifrage Garden," and still another,
called the " Sempervivum Garden." In the former
grow most European saxifrages, than which few
flowers are more chastely beautiful. The Sedunis,
in their variety of leaf and flower, are scarcely less
attractive. In the pretty streams which water this
delightful estate grow the Flowering Rush {Butomus
umbellatus), and the Water - soldier {Stratiotes

HARDVVICKE'S SCIEN CE-QOSSl 1'

205

aloides). Nor arc the cryptogainous plants want-
ing, as the references to tlie " Eern-gleu " will have
sliowu. The author's description of it urges one to
commence foraiing one of our own iinmediately, and

Fi^. 139. Flowering Rush.

/I'm )•)

Fitr. 110. Water- soldier.

the full-page illustration only serves to strengthen
the intention. We can readily understand that this
Tern-glade " is a spot of great beauty, and my
visitors linger over it with delight in the summer
afternoon." Here grow ferns from every country,
whose diversified fronds and tints make the place a
little paradise. Our English ferns grow in profu-
sion, none prettier, although more striking. Fungi

Fig-. 141. Cetcrach.

Fig. 142. Moon- wort.

are also represented and illustraled, as are tlie
fresh - water algte, lichens, mosses, microscopic
fungi, &c. "\Teeds and wild phinis, ornamental
grasses — each has its section and appropriate repre-
sentation. Perhaps among our edible fungi none
can be grown 'with such certainty, or are of
such use in the kitchen for flavouring purposes, as
the Morell (IlorchcUa esculentii) , and yet we usually
trust to the chapter of accidents to be supplied
with them. The chapter on "My Porest Trees" is
very entertaining, as the author has collected aii
assortment from all climes, including the Hardy
Palm {Chaincerops excelsa), the only one that will
live out of doors in this country. The illustrations
of these trees and of the " Shrubs " are among the
best in the book.

Natural History in almost every department has
been lugged in to do duty in " My Garden." Thus,
we have English butterflies and moths, with their
larvffi, and the plants on which they feed ; beetles,
hymenoptera, ueuroptera, diptera, &c., and a host
of entomological details. Conchology is represented

Fi[j. 143. l\Io)chcHit, crassipcs.

by the land and fresh-water snails and slugs, and
ichthyohigy by the species which frequent our
English waters. After a brief discourse on the
" Reptiles " and '• Garden Animals " found on the
es'afc, we come to the "Birds," including aquatic

Fig. 144. Hawfinch.

and terrestrial kinds, frugivorous, insectivorous, and
rapacious. One cannot wonder that a charming
spot like " My Garden" should be a retreat for our
feathered songsters, especially when they receive
succour and protection so freely. Accordingly, we
find a tolerable list of birds, such, perhaps, as could
only be collected together under these auspices

206

HARDWICKE'S 8C IE N CE-GOSS IP.

" A garden without birds, is like a mansion without
inhabitants ! "

Fig. 145. Black-cap.

Fig. 146. Stone-chat.

Fig. 147. Chitr-chaCr.

Lastly, the book coiickidcs with a chapter de-
voted to the " Gardens of various nations," and a
general calendar for 1871. But the inexorable limits
of space remind us that we have already lingered
over a book which cannot fail to charm the natu-
ralist and the horticulturist alike, and which has
so pleasing, and yet so attractively, described how,
v/ith the smallest materials, it is possible to achieve
the greatest results.

"ANOTHER PHARAOH."

I HAVE long been wishing to send an account of
my king of pets to Science-Gossip, and I have
now been so effectually stirred up by "M. A. D.'s"
charming history of his ancient Majesty "King
Pharaoh," that 1 will ask you to insert a short chat
concerning one of the same solemn dynasty, even at
the risk of seeming to have occasionally copied from
the prior history.

Unlike " Pharaoh," my young owl, fresh from a
nest on the pleasant banks of the Wye, was rescued
out of pure charity, at the price of twopence half-
penny, from some ruthless urchins who had killed its
baby-mate (they are generally hatched in couples),
and were proceeding to dispatch him also, on the
plea that " owls are unlucky " ; and charity proved
its own reward, by the fund of amusement the bird
has ever since afforded us.

He looked so grotesquely sad, so hideously ill-
proportioned, that we could never look at him for
the first week without eclatant de rirc, and he
was at once given Mr. Wood's admirable designa-
tion, " ovKoc, uviipoq." Unlike "Pharaoh," he never
caught a cold in his head, but, curiously like him, he
at first shared my bedroom, until his erratic habits
at night— padding all about the room as if possessed
of heavy human feet — caused him to be banished to
the cellar, where he soon chose a dark shelf and
" moped supreme " ; like Pharaoh, too, manifesting
a great love of climbing stairs, frightening cookey
not a little when she met this imp of darkness
coming up from the lower regions into her own
domains. And he was hideous ! — a shapeless mass
of fluff of pepper-and-salt hue, with those great
mournful eyes, like a child's bad drawing, or some
hisus naturae, that only exists in illustrated books of
fairy-tales. But he changed and changed as his
feathers grew out, and we watched, as the tadpole
did when his tail fell off, aud said " What next ? "
Never till now did I understand the compliment a
gentleman paid me when I was a little child ; he
exclaimed, " You are like the young owls, growing
prettier every day." A somewhat doubtful one I
feel it now !

Owlos had to be fed by cramming at first, and he
bked it so much that in his solemn laziness he
would never have fed himself at all, had he not been
served with a little wholesome neglect in the matter
of waiting on him at meals. He is fond of snails
for pudding, after his raw meat dinner ; but he will
never touch them in winter or early spring, until
they have become juicy by fresh green feeding.

Like " Pharaoh," he looks very picturesque with
a mouse in his beautiful, hawk-like, fawn-coloured
claw ; but he looks his best when, leisurely holding
a long writhing earth-worm, he reminds me of the
old picture of Jove's eagle clutching the thunder-
bolts.

He soon became very tame ; his favourite perch
was on the top of the drawing-room door, or on the
middle frame of the window-sasli, from which he
would watch the passers-by in the street for hours,
turning his head after them till they were out of
sight, and making the most ludicrous succession of
bows to them, sometimes describing a circle with
his head, raising himself up and down to make it as
large as possible. A cracking with his beak was the
sign of his grave displeasure, and this Mas invariably
bestowed on a peculiarly large chignon, or when
any outrageous display of colours in coiffure passed
under the window and offended his owlship's stern
taste. When tired of moralizing on street proces-
sions he would fly back to the drawing-room table,
and laying his shock head on the soft cloth, he
would watch my work with his great earnest eyes
till they gradually closed iu sleep ; or would gently
nibble my hair all over, drawing each bit through

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GO SSIP.

207

bis bill so delicately ! closing his eyes all the while
in mesmeric bliss.

Now he is promoted to a large wire-built place
under the trees in the garden, next to the bantam-
pen. He eyed his fellow-pets at first with great
interest, but soon made up his miud that they were
too big to eat, and lived in most harmonious terms
with them, until one day, when, seeing them enjoy
a dish of earth-worms which he claimed for his own
dessert, he suddenly pounced down among them
with his sharp claws on their backs, and, as the
Yorkshire people say, "squandered them" in all
directions. Alas ! one foul sin stains Owlos's soul,
though I fear it does not lie heavy on his con-
science ! One morning we found him, shortly after
a hatch of sweet little white French bantams had
taken place, with a snowy chick in his cruel paw.
We hung it, for an albatross, around his neck ; but
Owlos refused all signs of contrition — so he was
wired off from his feathered cousins for ever.

Very early in life he, like "Pharaoh," tried to get
into his jam-pot; so a huge bath was provided him,
and now his delight is on warm mornings to splash
himself all over (he is very modest in the act, and
shuns all curious watchers), coming out a laughable
caricature of a drowned rat — shrunk, bedraggled,
and unrecognizable, like Barham's jackdaw under a
curse, — a mere section of his former plump hand-
some self. Some prying village children one day
witnessed the ceremony, and exclaimed "Look,
look ; her's a washing hisself ! " when his disgust
at the murdered Queen's English was unmistak-
able, for he cracked at them, and retreated pre-
cipitately.

Another owl comes from the woods, and sits on a
thickly-ivied tree near him. The stranger gives a
soft, rippling " Who-o-o-o," and Owlos answers
with a scream ; so we call the pair " Bubble and
Squeak." He calls to me as soon as my step is
heard in the garden, and whenever he has broken a
saucer or knocked his tin dinner-plate over his
table, he has always told me a long tale all about it,
in such a concerned tone of voice ! Would that he
could speak ! if only in the ancient Welsh tongue
of his native county, which musically calls him
"Dyllhuan."

He is beautifully coloured and marked ; his head
and back are of a rich oak-brown, curiously mottled;
what ladies would call his under petticoats ai"e of a
delicate fawn; his breast cream-colour, and this,
together with his wings, is flecked with white in
downward lines, in such distinct patches as to have
the appearance of white body-colour paint. A
beautiful crimson line surrounds his orb-like black
eyes, and the -variety of feathers about his face is
quite indescribable, his very eyelids being covered
with them, and all of that peculiar downy texture,
each single lamina standing loosely out from the
shaft, which enables the owl to fly so noiselessly at

night— coming down on its prey like a veritable
flake of snow.

I will sum up my Owlos's biography by saying
that he has just celebrated his second birthday by a
supper of beefsteak aii, naturely wath snail fixings.
The butcher always insists on spelling his name
with an H in the weekly bill of provisions, a deli-
cate allusion, I conceive, to the days of Ethelbert
and Oifa, when my pet's forefathers mingled their
nightly cries with the howls of the wolves, in this
ancient Welsh province of Menevia. W. E.

MICEOSCOPY.

QuEKETT Microscopical Club. — The Seventh
Annual Meeting was held at University College,
July 2Gth, 1872, Dr. Lionel S. Beale, E.R.S., &c.,
President, in the chair. The report of the com-
mittee, read by the Secretary, congratulated the
members upon the continued success and satisfac-
tory condition of the club, detailed its progress
during the past year, showed the number of dona-
tions made to the library and cabinet, also the num-
ber of members on the list ; and referred to the pub-
lication of the catalogues of the slides and books, the
Quarterly Journal, the Field Excursions, the Annual
Soiree, and the special services rendered by certain
gentlemen named. The Treasurer's report showed
a satisfactory balance-sheet, from which it ap-
peared that the income from all sources had been
£272. 5s. Id., and that there was a balance in hand
of £12. 7s. 2d. Unanimous votes of thanks were
passed to the Council of University College for the
highly valued privilege of meeting in the library of
that building free of charge ; to the President for
his valuable services during his two years' term of
office; and to ^ the Committee for their efficient
conduct of affairs. The President then read the
Annual Address, which was listened to with marked
attention, and enthusiastically applauded by the
meeting. The proceedings terminated with the
election of officers, and the installation of Dr. E.
Braithwaite, F.L.S., F.R.M.S., as President of the
Club for the ensuing year.— -K. T. L.

On Cleaning and Mounting Foeaminifera. —
When the specimens of foraminifera are small, it is
best to treat them as follows : — Dry the mass, then
place it under the microscope, and pick out the
foraaiinifera with a split bristle placed in a holder,
or a very fine camel-hair brush. Sometimes the
brushes are required so fine that all the bristles,
except one or two, may be cut away. After the
objects wanted have been picked out, they may be
placed in a test-tube (see Science- Gossip for
August, 1872), and boiled in diluted potash. If
the foraminifera require to be mounted dry, Mr.
Davies says no better way can be adopted than dry
cells and gum. (ForTuU directions' see " The Pre-

i^OS

HARJ) WICKE'S SCI ENCE-GOSSIP.

paratiou and Mouiitiiig of Mici'oscopic Oltjects,'" by
T. Davics. Published by R. Hardwicke, 192,
Piccadilly : price 2s. Gd.) In mounting the fora-
niinifera in balsam, great care is required to com-
pletely expel the air from the specimens. This may
be done by" boiling in a test-tube, with Canada
balsam or turpentine, or by the use of the air-pump.
After the air has been thoroughly expelled, the
specimens must be mounted in pure balsam. It is
almost needless for me to say that the specimens
must be qidte dry before any attempt is made to
expel the air or to mount. If this is not attended
to, the objects, if mounted in balsam, will be quite
useless ; while, if they are mounted dry, moisture
will condense upon the inner surface of the glass
cover, and this will prevent a good view of the
object. To examine the structure it is necessary to
cut sections. This is fully explained in the book
before mentioned. When more than one specimen
of a species is met with, they should be placed on
the slide in different positions. T. Rymer Jones
says : " They should be attached to the point of a
line needle, so that they may be turned in any
direction, and examined by reflected light condensed
npon them by means of a lens or side-rcHector." —
Wm. Sargant, jiin.

The Markings on the Test Poduka Scale.—
The July number of the Lens contains a paper by
Dr. J. U. S. Arnold on the Podura markings. The
following is a brief summary of his views on their
character : — "There are, I believe, some species of
podura that arc scaleless, and are clothed with
hairs — compound hairs ; that is, the hairs are
covered by projections, usually in considerable
number at one end, where they form a brush-like
arrangement. It is, then, my purpose to try and
establish some points of similarity of structure
between the hairs and scales themselves. If we
agree that these compound hairs are covered by
epithelial scales, as are the hairs of other animals,
why should not the scales also be covered with like
structures ? There is no doubt that the epithelial
scales on the hairs of L. c.nrvicoUis and Degeeria
domcdica bear a great similarity to the markings on
the scales themselves. They are of the same shape,
and I have in several instances made measurements
which show the coincidence in size between the
'spines' on the hairs and those on the scales.

If the spines separated from the hair are

examined by unilateral (oblique) light, a beading
may be seen on them, as well as on the spines from
the scales. Having satisfied myself as to that fact,
the next thing was to separate the spines from the
scales. On a slide of B. chmestica, mounted, I
believe, by J. Beck, of London, I perceived, to my
great satisfaction, a fractured scale which showed
the spines projecting beyond the broken edge, some
of them bent and distorted." In order to be per-

fectly sure of the identity of the hair and scaie
spines, the M'riter adopted the following methods
for obtaining the scale spines separate from the
scale : — " I selected specimens of the scales that
were not mixed with hairs and that show no free
spines, and placed them in such a manner that the
discharge from aLeyden jar could be brought to bear
upon them, which not only tore to pieces the scales,
but scattered the spines far and wide. I also, by
means of crushing in an agate mortar, aud even by
crushing on the slide by pushing about the covering
glass with the handle of a dissectiug-needle, have
fractured the scale in such a manner that the spines
lay free, and side by side with the broken scale.
What more is wanting to show that hairs and scales
are of a similar structure ? the hair consisting of a
shaft, upon the surface or exterior of which are
attached spine-like epithelial cells ; the scale of a
flattened shaft, so to speak, covered by analogous
structures." The paper is accompanied by an
" Albertype " of the fractured scale and detached
hairs. The original photograph was taken with a
Wales o'o immersion. (I have observed a similar
effect on a 'slide of D. domestlca.) The scale is,
however, not broken, but partially doubled over in
a diagonal direction. Beck's new immersion (/o)
shows the so-called beading on the spines very
distinctly. The beading forcibly reminds one of the
medullary substance, or pith, seen in various hairs,
such as the squirrel, mouse, &c. May not this
beading or varicosity be caused by an internal
pith ? — F. Kitton.

ZOOLOGY.

Bavages of Anobium,— Under this head Mr.
E. C. Bye has a paragraph in the Entomologist's
Magazine for August. He describes that Anobium
striatum completely riddles the paper of a pub-
lisher, five quires deep, outer wrapper and all. He
thinks that a good soaking with boiling water and
carbolic acid may suppress its ravages. He states
that he has known J. tessellatum actually to bore
through leaden rooting.

Coluber Austriacus.— I am pleased, but not
surprised, at heariug that Coluber Austriacus, alias
Coronella lavis, has been found in Dorsetshire, I
wish your correspondent would be kind enough
to say where it was seen. I presume on the
Poole and Bournemouth lieaths, where I have long
expected it would be seen, in company with the
beautiful lizard Lacerta hispimn. This latter has
not crossed the chalk downs into the North Hants,
or Bagshot moors, as the Coronella has done, pro-
bably at a period when the plastic clays (and
Bagshot sands over them ?) had not been all but
dcinidcd cf the chalk between Winchester and

HARDWICKE'S SCIBN CE-GOSSIP.

209

Eversley — a very long time ago. But Coronella
Icevis has crossed the chalk hills. The first speci-
men found round here is due to a Sandhurst cadet ;
and I have had three or four more out of my
parish. I believe that the snake nmst have been
not uncommon in old times, but that it has been
killed by turf-cutters, who mistook it for the little
red variety of the adder. I did so once myself. It
is, let your correspondent bear in mind, perfectly
harmless. It should be looked for now to the
south-east of me ; in the moors of Aldershot, the
Hurd Head, Blackdown, Leith Hill, and all the
greensand moors of Surrey. It may have spread
thither from tlie south and south-west before the
parting of England and France. Meanwhile, I
want instances of its occurrence in the New Forest,
which — or the Boui-nemouth heaths — ought to have
been its first remaiuiug station in England. —
Charles Kingsley.

New Additions to Zoology. — In the Annul-
and Magazine of Natural History for August, Dr.
C. Liitken describes a new species of black coral
{Antipathes arctica) from the Polar seas. This
family had hitherto only beeu known from warm
seas. It belongs to deep water, and Dr. Liitken
conjectures that it may exteud to all the deeper
valleys of the ocean. The " Black Corals " are
among the less known animal forms, and belong to
the horny corals {Gorgouirhe). In the same maga-
zine, Mr. H. J. Carter, F.U.S., describes a new
species of Aplysina, from the north-west coast of
Spain, under the name of Aplysina corneostellata.
This is a genus of horny sponges, devoid of foreign
objects in the core of the horny fibre. The same
well-known naturalist further gives a description of
two new sponges from the Philippine Islands, now
in the British Museum, named respectively Meyerina
claviformis and Crateromorpha Meyeri, Both were
discovered by Dr. Meyer. The total length of the
former is eighteen inches. Mr. Carter's summary
remarks concerning it are as follows: — " This is the
most exquisite sponge that I have yet examined as
a whole, and in its parts. Individually, its spicules
equal any in beauty of form, and collectively surpass
all." The August number of the journal in question
is rich in the record of new forms. Mr. John
Gould, F.Il.S., describes two new species of birds
from ]\Ianilla, under the names of Dicmtni retro-
cindum and Colluricincla parvissima. There is also
an account of a new genus and species of hydroid
zoophyte, named Staurocoryne Wortleyi ; whilst
Dr. J. E. Gray announces a new genus of unicellu-
lar green algae, from Port Natal, which he has
named Codiophylkm,

Venus's Flower-basket.— Dr. A. B. Meyer has
brought home, and placed in the British Museum,
two specimens of this sponge in spirits, from the
Piiilippiues, which are entirely covered with a thick

coat of sai'code like the bark on a Gorgonia, but
softer, so that the siliceous fibres are entirely hidden
from view. No one would suspect that this sponge
had such a beautiful lace-like structure, but simply
a netted or pierced tube, with irregular, circular,
thick hoops. The sarcode is of a brown colour,
most likely caused by the action of the spirit.

Popular Natural History.— The address of
the Bev. H. H. Huggins, President of the Liver-
pool Naturalists' Field Club, just published, is
chiefly devoted to the above subject;. It is a capital
argument in favour of the elevating nature of
zoological and botanical pursuits, and contends
that the truthful study of nature is homage paid
to its Creator.

The Wyandotte Cave and its Fauna. — Pro-
fessor Cope has contributed an elaborate article to
the American Naturalist for July on the above
interesting subject. He states that the Blind
Fish {Amblyopsis spePMus) is the same in the Wyan-
dotte Cave, which traverses the carboniferous
limestones in Crawford county in South-western
Indiana, as in the Kentucky Mammoth cavern.
Blind crawfish abound, but they are specifically
distinct from those of the Mammoth cave, though
nearly related to them. An isopod, specifically
related to a similar one in the latter place, was
also found blind. Four species of beetles were
obtained, all new to science, and two of them
belonging to the blind carnivorous genus Anopli-
thalmus. One of the others has rather small eyes.
Centipedes were more abundant than in the Mam-
moth cave, the species being also distinct, and
identical with tliat found in the caverns of Virginia
and Tennessee. It is eyeless, as is also Acantho-
cheir, a peculiar kind of spider. Professor Cope ia
in favour of the view which ascribes the origin of
these blind creatures to the modification of outdoor
species having eyes.

Plant Lice. — The plant lice affecting the vines
to such a severe extent in France is still attracting
much attention. The French Academy has offered
a prize of twenty thousand francs to encourage
studies that will find a remedy to protect the vine
against the disease without destroying it. The
best remedy against the Fhylloxera, as it is called,
is the use of phenic acid, a substance nearly allied
to and resembling carbolic acid.

New Chinese Animals. — The Abbe David,
who has recently made some very interesting dis-
coveries in China, has added to them a new species
of Ibis (J. sinensis), a new Falcon {F. tacroides), a
new Elanus {E. sinensis), and a new Salamander of
the genus Cynops {C. orientalis). He also men-
tions the discovery of a great fresh-water Tortoise,
attaining a weight of two and three hundred pounds,
supposed to be Chiria indica.

210

HARDWiCKE'S SCIENCE- GOSSIP.

BOTANY,

Preservation or Fungi.— Tbe following metho '
for the preservation of fungi, as given in the Rev.
H. P. Dunster's work on botany, will, I think, be
found in every way satisfactory, and, if not too lens
for insertion in your journal, might prove useful to
some of your correspondents. Of course all the
smaller kinds of fungi are easily disposed of, as all
they need is simply being allowed to dry on the
leaves, pieces of old wood, or other matrices on
which they may have been found growing. With
regard to the larger, and consequently more trouble-
some specimens, the following is the modus operandi:
—" With a delicate scimitar-shaped knife or scalpel,
such as is found in a surgeon's instrument- case, I
make a double vertical section through the middle,
from the top of the pileus to the base of the stem,
so as to remove a slice. This, it will be at once
seen, shows the natural outline of the whole
fungus ; the internal nature of its stem, whether
hollow, or spongy, or solid; the thickness of the
pileus, and the peculiarities of the gills, whether
equal or unequal in length, decurrent upon the
stem, or otherwise. There will then remain the two
sides, or nearly halves of the fungus, which each in
itself gives a correct idea of the whole circumference
of the plant. But, before we proceed to dry them>
it is necessary to separate the stem from the pileus,
and from the latter to scrape out the fleshy lamellae
or gills, if. an Agaric, or the tubes if a Boletus.
We have thus the fungus divided into two portions
—a central thin slice, two nearly halves of the stem,
and the same sections of the pileus. These, after
being a little exposed to the air, that they may part
with some of their moisture, but [not so long that
they may shrivel, are placed between dry blotting-
paper, and subjected to pressure as other plants,
the paper being changed daily till the specimens are
perfectly dry. When this is the case, the central
portion of slice and the two halves of the stem are
to be fastened upon white paper, together with the
respective halves of the pileus upon the top of the
latter in their original position. There will thus be
three sections, from which a correct idea of the
whole plant may be obtained. The volca and ring
of such species as possess then must be retained.
Some of the smaller and less fleshy kinds will not
reqirire to have the gills removed. In collecting
fleshy fungi, care must be taken that they are not
too old, and absolutely in a state of decomposition,
or too much infested with the larvae of insects.
When this is the case, some oil of turpentine
poured over them will either drive them rapidly
from their holes, or destroy them. Species with a
clammy viscid pileus, it is better to expose to a dry
air, or the heat of a fire, before being placed in
papers. The separate parts of the genera Phallus

and Clathrus, I fill with cotton ; keep them for a
time exposed to a dry atmosphere, and then, after
removing the cotton, subject them to pressure." I
may add that, as a preservative against insects, the
specimens (when dry) should be washed over with
a solution of corrosive sublimate in pyroligneous
naphtha, very carefully, so as not to discolour
them. They also want to be looked to now and
then, in case damp should get at them.—/. S. W.
Burliam.

The Crtptogamia op the Scilly Islands. —
Having recently spent a few days at the Scilly
Islands, I thought a few remarks on the Crypto-
gamic plants found there might not be uninteresting
to the readers of Science-Gossip. I was surprised
at the small number of mosses to be found— twenty-
five species would outnumber all I observed on the
islands. Of these, I gathered 'Pottia asperula,
Campylopus polytrichodeus, Trichostomum littomle,
and Bryum alpinum, all barren, as were most of the
common ones; the Sphagni, or Hypnum fluitans
division, not represented at all : the bogs seem to
contain too much saltness for them. The Hepaticse
are represented by a very few species. I nowhere
observed a single frondose form. On the rocks I
observed Frullania dilatata and F. fragilifolia, the
latter with calyces and male state, although I saw
a single patch only. F. tamarisci grow on the
stunted heath in a very small form. These, with
Jungermamiia ventricosa and a single species of
Scapania, were all I saw there. The stone Lichens
appear much the same as on the coast of Cornwall.
I saw Lecidia Miiddii and Lecanom aipospila, but
neither of them so fine as on the Penzance coast.
Ramalina scopulorum, Roccella tindoria, and B,
faciformis occur on the rocks, but very sparingly
and poor specimens, except the first, which is fine
and in great variety of form. The frondose stone
Lichens are pretty well represented. I gathered
Fannelia perlata in fruit, and several others of the
same genus. The Sticta family seem to be best
represented. I gSiihereA Siidiua limbata, S.fuligi-
nosa and S. scorhicidata, Sticta pulmomcea and S.
aurata, the latter in great beauty ; also, Eicasolia
latevirens. This was in fruit, and the only one in
that state. The Aspleniim mammm is very common
on all the islands ; with most of the commoner ones
on St. Mary's, the Osmimda regdlis grows very fine
in the boggy ground. Presco Abbey and grounds
are well worth a visit to the islands. Tiie immense
number of succulents on the extensive rock-work,
as well as the fine collection of agave, aloes, New

Zealand and Australian plants, are well worth
attention. There seems to be no winter there by
their appearance.— TT. Cimioto, Penzance.

Mineral Matter of Plants.— A large class
of plants appears to grow vigorously on bare rock.

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

211

and M. Baudrimont has obtained a number of such
plants in a fresh state, and determined the amount
of water and mineral matter they contained. In
all cases the ash bore a considerable proportion to
the organic matter, though often forming but a
small fraction of the entire plant. The largest
amount of organic matter was found in Aloes, and
the smallest in Cactus Peruvianus. The ash in the
latter was also smallest, and the percentage of
water greatest.

Bacteria.— Prof. Cohu states that he finds, in
opposition to the statements of Wyman and Grace
Calvert, that the development of Bacteria in pre-
pared solutions is entirely prevented by exposing
them to a temperature of seventy-live to eighty
degrees, whilst a temperature of seventy degrees is
insaificient. Pencillium spores, on the contrary,
are not destroyed at the above temperature.

Formation of Ozone by Flowers. — It has
been found that many essential oils, like those of
peppermint, turpentine, oil of cloves, lavender,
bergamot, aniseed, nutmeg, thyme, and others,
when in contact with the oxygen of the atmosphere
in presence of sunlight, develop very large quan-
tities of ozone. The oxidation of these oils is, in
fact, a very convenient source of ozone, as they,
even in small quantities, ozonize much oxygen.
The action is strongest in direct sunlight, far less
so in suffused daylight, and very weak or at an end
in tbe dark. The development of ozone which has
been begun in the light continues for a long time
in darkness. Eau de Cologne, hydromel, and other
aromatic tinctures, act in the same manner when
exposed to the sun's rays. Experiments made on
flowers with powerful perfumes, such as the nar-
cissus, hyacinth, heliotrope, mignonette, and others,
in closed vessels, prove that they also form ozone.
Those with fainter perfume produce less ozone,
those without scent none at all. Mantegazzn, who
has conducted these experiments, is of opinion that
this important source of ozone is of great hygienic
value for the purification of the air in marshy
districts.

GEOLOGY.

The Food of Plesiosaurus. — Professor Cope
recently exhibited vertebrte of a Plesiosaurus, and
those of a smaller species, found in close proximity,
the vertebrge column of the latter being immediately
below that of the Plesiosaurus, and in a reversed
position, as though it had been swallowed by the
larger reptile, which was over thirty feet in length.
The latter is a new species, and has been named
Plesiosaurus gulo.

. New Tertiary Mammal, — A.t a recent meeting
of the American Philosophical Society, Professor

Cope stated that the largest mammal of the Ameri-
can Eocene formations adjoining those of Wyoming
was the Bathmodoii radians, of about the size of a
rhinoceros. It was an odd-toed ungulate, with
peculiar dental character, which indicated a connec-
tion between different types of hoofed animals. He
also stated that the mammalian fauna of Wyoming
and Utah more nearly resembled that of the Paris
basin than any yet discovered in America, and that
it contained a still greater number of generalized
mammalian forms.

Professor Agassiz's South American Expedi-
tion.— The evidences of glacial action, on a scale
so extensive as to more than suggest that the
southern hemisphere has undergone a similar
general glaciation to that of the northern, are being
abundantly brought to light by Professor Agassiz
and his coadjutors. The former states that glaciers
alone could have sculptured the physical geography
of the country into its present shape. Moreover
the general striation of the country is from the
south northwards. This glaciation has been traced
as far as the northern end of Chiloe island. The
professor believes that it occurred simultaneously
with the same phenomenon in the northern hemi-
sphere, and that, during the glacial period, the two
hemispheres were capped with a sheet of ice of
enormous thickness. In South America he has now
succeeded in tracing glaciation up to thirty-seven
degrees south latitude, on the Atlantic as well as on
the Pacific coast. The existing southern ice-fields,
especially those of Magellan, have, like those of
Switzerland, once had a much greater extension.
Ancient moraines abound in the South American
valleys, and in the Straits above-named. One was
found damming up a valley so as to form a lake-
Agassiz concludes by stating that, old hunter as he
is in this respect, his anticipations of finding drift
phenomena in South America have been realized on
a greater scale than he had dared to hope.

Cave Deposits in France. — Milne-Edwards
has just made a communication to the Academy on
the Carnivora and Cheiroptera, of which the fossil
remains are found in the phosphate of lime deposits
at Caylux, Tregols, and Concots. He furtlier de-
scribes the jaw of a cat, which he names Pseude-
lurus Edwardsii, and another animal which is a
Ihik between the cats and the Mustelidce. At Tre-
gols is a breccia composed of the bones of bats.

" Towards the close of the Post-tertiary period
the^.land of passage by which the plants and animals
migrated to Ireland broke up. This preceded the
last of the series of changes in the physical geo-
graphy of Britain, which comprised the separation
of the British area from the Continent, and ended in
the present distribution of land and water."— 7V?/^'.s
" Historical Geology ''

212

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

NOTES AND aUERIES.

Colours by Candle-light.— Can any of your
correspondents inform me why blue flowers look so
differently by candle-light? Annual larkspur re-
tains its vivid colour. The uew Myosotis looks
black. Vicia cracca and the perennial Veronica,
found in old-fashioned_ gardens, are a very red lilac.
Ageratum Mexicanum is much the same as by day-
light. I only give these as instances. In water-
colour drawing, we know that Prussian-blue looks
blue by candle-light, and cobalt looks black. I
should think that a microscopist might find various
problems in my question. — S. Horsley.

Collection Catalogues. — Evidently the com-
poser has as much difficulty in understanding my
plan of indexing (see page 175), as I have in ex-
plaining it. In setting up the example, he has
placed "Elm" under column D, and "Eagle"
under P, whereas they ought both to be under E.
These errors, although palpably only typographical,
may have puzzled some readers. — Alex. 'E, Murray.

Hymenopteba in Town. — During the hot days
of last month my brother brought me a specimen of
Uroceras gigas which he caught in Cheapside. It
was stunned, but the movements of the abdomen
and long ovipositor might well cause certain mis-
givings as to its friendliness towards us when in
bodily health. The appearance of this hymenop-
terous insect in the city does not appear to be a
common occurrence. Perhaps the fact will be
interesting to your readers. — Theodore C. Izod.

The Liver (p. 163).— The Yellow Iris would
hardly apply to the Mersey, it being a large tidal
river with salt or brackish water. Besides, the
real Liver "pool" was not a marsh, but a flooded
inlet of the stream. This pool, I am told, formerly
ran up to Church Street, of which fact, authentic
proof has survived to the present generation, though
now all covered in. Further, the form LicernooX
is the more reeent name, as before stated ; its older
form being Lii'ierpool. — A. H.

' Hunting for Insects' Eggs. — This is a pursuit
which may be "strongly recommended" to all those
who take an interest in Entomology, and the micro-
scopist also will be able to turn to account the
objects he finds. It cannot be said, indeed, that it is
" all prizes and no blanks ; " and some of the sur-
prises one meets with are a little unpleasiug. Thus,
in Swanscombe Wood, during last June, I found on
an oak-leaf twenty-six eggs, arranged most regularly
in rows, forming a sort of square. To my eye they
seemed like those of some large moth, possibly of
rarity, as they were of good size, and not unlike
those of the Eggers. ilvieh to my disgust, when
they hatched out, there appeared on the leaf no
caterpillars, but a party of larvaj evidently belong-
ing to the Hemipterous order — vulgo, tiie Bugs.
Curious and squat creatures were they, with striped
bodies, and antenn;\; of remarkable length in pro-
portion. I was not, however, tempted to try to rear
them.—/. E. S. C.

Influence of Gas upon Plants.— In addition
to what has been said on this subject, it may be re-
marked that among the substances, cither present
in gas or the products of its combustion, are sul-
phur compounds ; as bisulphate of carbon, sulphide
of hydrogen, and possibly sulphuric acid vapour.

These are not only not " food for plants," but, on
the contrary, inimical both to animal and vegetable
life. But, as recommended by your other corre-
spondents, syringing with clear rain or other soft
water, combined with the other usual precautious,
will enable window gardeners to keep many plants
in health and vigour.

Coloured Hawthorn.— I have two fine havv-
thoiTi bushes. The flowers used to be pink, but are
now white, with only a pink tinge when the blossom
is going off. Cau any correspondent say if there
is any means of restoring the colour ? — E. T. S.

Microscopical Societies. — Cau any of your
correspondents inform me where to obtain a list of
the Microscopical Societies in Great Britain '^—S.
Ireland.

Gamekeepers and Zoologists. — A gamekeeper
passing through a field near my house, a few days
ago, called to me that there was something in one
of the traps (set for rabbits). On going, I found a
fine weasel in it. After examining it, as it was a
beauty, I asked if it was of any use. " No, only to
throw away," was the answer ; adding that he had
caught a white one in a trap a few days ago. " But
you did not throw that away ? " " No, I gave it to
Joe Green, for stuffing." Let me beseech all young
naturalists to make the acquaintance of game-
keepers, particularly of old ones. It is astonishing
\yhat an amount of rare objects may be brought to
light by these means. If you meet with a bird, or a
fish, or an animal you may not happen to know,
take it to some old gamekeeper. If you want to
know if such or such a bird, &c., was ever known
in the neighbourhood, ask the " old keeper." If
you want to start a little museum, engage the
assistance of all the old keepers. We had an " old
keeper" employed in our M'oods in winter. This
old worthy was a mine of information on all matters
relative to flood and field, and, having once charge
of a very extensive marsh (Martin Mere), it would
make one's month water to hear him tell of the
bitterns, the ruff's, grebes, " and lots of birds that
nobody knoiced nothing aliorit" formerly met with
there. This person once brought me a dabchick,
and another time a hoopoe, and, lastly, a couple of
Bohemian wax-wings. — Thos. Williams.

Where are the Swallows ? — A correspondent
notes the disappearance of swallows from some ac-
customed haunts near Ilampstead. It may be of
interest to note that they have appeared this season
in considerable numbers south of the Thames, in
localities, as at Brixton, where they have not pre-
viously been noticed. — A. II.

Squirrels and Fruit.- I observe in your No-
vember number some remarks on Squirrels, and I
am now in trouble, for some of these little animals
get to my cherry-trees, and play havoc with my
fruit ; and I am told they will get my strawberries
when they find them out. If this be so, I am in
fear they will annoy me by getting my plums and
wall-fruit. If some of your correspondents can tell
me if they generally are ainioying unto fruit, or can
suggest any remedy that I can adopt to keep them
ofl; I shall be obliged.— iV. ;S'. IF.

Bees in a Strange Place.— A week or ten days
ago a swarm of bees was found to have taken pos-
session of the small cart-box in front of one of my
farm-carts. They had probably been there a few
dajs before they were discovered, for they had

IIAilDWlCKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

213

built a comb half as laro^e as my hand. The cart
was in constant requisition for carrying hay; so
every time it had to p:o to the field, some half-mile
distant, the lid of tlie hox was closed, and the bees
were taken for a ride. The swarm was from the
first but a weak one — -probably a cast from a swarm
— and this natural weakness, to[?ether with the
constant disturbance, has caused the bees gradually
to desert their comb, and they have all disappeared
again. I was from home when they were first seen,
or T might, perhaps, have found some means of
preserving the bees that had found so strange a
resting-place. — Robert Holland.

OrTiCAL_ Phenomenon.— I am very desirous to
obtain an insertion of the following account of an
optical phenomenon in Science-Gossip : — If the
observer stand upon a hill, so that his shadow ought
to fall upon the ground below at the distance of a
quarter of a mile, instead of a shadow he will see a
light many yards in height and breadth, which, like
his shadow, will follow all his movements — proving
that it represents his shadow. Now, if he descend
the hill till the sun ceases to shine on him, the light
will still remain, and will not finally disappear till
the top of the hill is 22° above him ! ]f lie again
mounts the hill, the light re-appears before he
comes again into sunshine. This appearance is
doubtless a form of diffraction, but I cau obtain no
solution of the mystery from any of my scientific
friends to whom I have mentioned it, or who have
observed it for themselves. Here I have only seen
it at sunset, but in Switzerland it might probably
be seen in the depths of the valleys at noonday. —
T. Ogier JFarcl, M.D., Oxon.

The Restjrkection Plant. — A few days ago a
friend brought us a curious-looking dry plant, like
a shrivelled brown moss-fern, with a dry fibrous
root in the shape of a ball. This wc were told had
been seven years at least without water, and would
revive if supplied with moisture. So we placed it
iri a tumbler of water, and certainly a sort of life
did come back to the plant. Its roots expanded and
its fronds grew moist, and stretched themselves.
At the end of two days it looked alive. We now
expected it to grow, and the more hopeful of us
suggested a blossom, perhaps even of a brilliant
colour. Nothing more occurred or seemed likely to
occur, except a little mould on the brownish fronds.
Sp we took it out of its tumbler in about a fort-
night, and dried it up again. We know that it is a
native of California, but we shall be glad if any
correspondent would give its botanical name, or
any particulars with regard to its history. —
M. A. D.

SiNGULAK Flowering of Saxifrage. — I am
anxious to tell you of, what seems to me, an extra-
ordinary coincidence. The inclosed Saxifrage was
gathered while in bud in Gloucestershire, on July
8th ; put in blotting-paper, and then confined in a
drawer till now, when it was found perfectly fresh
and in full flower. Is it not rather a singular
occurrence ? — Jessie Reeve.

Migration of Newts.— Some friends of mine
have a square pond cemented at the bottom, and
with a high stone parapet all round it, except
where a few steep steps come down to the water's
edge. The pond was known to have a good number
of newts in it. One day three very small pike were
brought home and put into the pond. The very
next morning a tiiick black mass was found clinging

to the sloping brickwork at the side of the pond.
The Newts had seen the pike,_and straightway the
whole tribe endeavoured to migrate, and clung one
on to the other, vainly endeavouring to scale the
parapet. They did get out (poor things) by human
aid, but I doubt if tlieir history extended further in
the annals of emigration. — 31. A. D.

Parasite on Hedgehogs. -This morning, while
feeding a tame hedgehog, I noticed a singular-
looking insect, apparently working its way among
the spines. I tried to remove it, but it held on with
such tenacity that I conjectured it to be a part of
the animal's body. It was so buried in the flesh,
that I was compelled to cut it out. Its body is of a
pale slate-colour; the head, which barely protrudes
beyond the body, is merely a brown spot about ;,'o of
an inch in diameter. It has eight legs of the same
colouras the latter.— :7y/o»^«.s C. Oborii.

[It is the Hedgehog Tick (Ixodes hexagonns). —
Ed. S.-G.]

A Snake Story. — The inclosed cutting is from
the Western Mail of Llonday, July 22nd, and may
be interesting to the readers of Science-Gossip :—
A correspondent says, a few days ago, Mr. George
Stott, while walking along the side of a much-
frequented brook near Abercarn, had his attention
drawn to the peculiar movements of a snake about
five feet long, which he captured and killed. On
opening it, he discovered in its stomach a trout five
inches in length, which appeared to have been but
recently gorged. — R. and M.

Purpura Lapillus.— This mollusk is eaten by
the good people of Hastings, in common with the
Periwinkle, and is thought much nicer. It is sold
at one penny the half-pint, ready cooked. The
fisherman who was ci-ying them told me the
common name for them was man-suckers, a curious
term, for which he could give no explanation, but
said it was " what everybody in Hastings called
them."— ^. IF. L.

Parasites. — Will you say in next Science-
Gossip how I may get rid of parasites that infest
a pet starling ? The bird bathes each day, but the
pests appear to affect the back of head and neck,
where the beak cannot reach. — Q. T. J.

Something about Spiders. — A few days ago I
had the opportunity of seeing the manner in which
these interesting little animals are enabled to ascend
to any object without having previously fastened a
web to it. Somehow I got a little spider on my
hand, which began running about with no apparent
object in view. I became interested, and watched
to see what he would do. He commenced running
round and round near the same spot (the tip of my
middle finger) : he soon stopped, and suddenly stood
on his head. I could not make out what he was
doing till I saw a fine web floating upwards to the
ceiling; this he was projecting rapidly. When the
web touched the ceiling, I suppose, for I could not
see the end of it, he climbed up it some way, then
stopped, came down, and, for some unknown reason,
hauled it in. He now started a new web, which I
think he pulled in before it touched anything. _ He
had also the power of projecting his line horizon-
tally to some distance.— (?. ^S*., Jim., Oporto.

Prog Spawn.— Last year the frog tadpoles were
hatched on the 8th of April, this year on the 30th
of March. This year the spawn was obtained on

2U

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

March 14tli ; it was then obviously ouly just ex-
truded, as the globules were in a clear compact
mass, and not yet fully expanded. Older spawn
was found at the same place this same day; also,
several couples of frogs were still breeding. —
C. B. E.

A Botanical Difficulty.— Will you, or any of
your readers, kindly set me right in the following
difficulty: — I find, on reference to Garrod's "Ma-
teria Medica" and Oliver's " Botany," tliey state
that Hmnuliis lupulus and Cannahis saiiviis belong
to the natural order Urticacea, while Boyle and
Headland's "Materia Medica," Bentley's "Botany,"
and Squires's " Companion to the Pharmacopoeia,"
state that they belong to Camiahinacece. W hich is
right ?— ^. n. H.

To Pkeseeve Wasps' Nests. — A correspondent
asks how to preserve a wasps' nest? 1 have never
seen a wasps' nest preserved, but I have seen two
very fine specimens of hornets' nests. They were
taken out of the roof of a house. When all the
hornets were out, the nests were put under a large
bell-glass with several pieces of camphor. After
being kept so for some time they were removed,
and no smell was to be perceived, though they were
full of larv£e. They were afterwards kept under a
glass, and I think some camphor kept with them to
preserve them from moth. — T. B. Blow.

Mice Entering Cages. — Like your corre-
spondent " E. M. P.," _ I have been annoyed by
mice entering cages against walls; but it has not
occurred very frequently, and the only object of
the visit was seemingly the seeds to be obtained
from the floor of the cage : those in the glasses
were rarely touched. In one instance a mouse
showed some dexterity in paying his nocturnal
visit, as the cage was hung high up, and to get
in the mouse must have made an angular leap
from the edge of a shelf. Prom the examination
of the _ cage on successive days, it was evident
these visits were repeated, probably by the same
animal. There was an old and very tame canary
into whose cage a mouse would enter, sometimes
even in the day if the apartment was deserted.
The bird did not seem alarmed at its visitant, and
if any one entered the room, the artful mouse would
keep quite still at thebottom of the cage, and only
on the observer coming up close, would it make
a sudden dash at the wires and effect its escape. —

/. B. s. a

A One-legged Bullfinch.— I possess a bird
of this species, which by accident lost one of
his legs, but which, nevertheless, is more active
than some birds possessing the natural number of
these valuable supports. His greatest acliieve-
ment is to stand upon his stump and scratch his
head with the yet remaining limb. If his cage-
door be left open, he will leave it and hop rapidly
along the table, eluding the grasp with dexterity.
Though he always goes to roost upon his perch,
he almost invariably loses his equilibrium some
time during the night, and is compelled to repose
thereafter at the bottom of the cage, since he is
far too sagacious to exhaust himself by making a
succession of attempts to reach the perch in the
dark. But it is odd that he seems to "abhor a
vacuum;" he is never to be found asleep in the
morning in the middle of the cage, but hobbles up
to one of the sides, against which he steadies him-

self. He will occasionally eat at night, an unuusal
thing with Endish birds, though common amongst
canaries.—/. B. S. C.

"Moth among Clothes." — Having just been
told by a lady friend the best method she has ever
tried for the preservation of clothes from the
ravages committed bv moths, I think I can hardly
do better than let " W. M._ M.'/ have the benefit of
my friend's recipe. It is simply this : — Obtain
from a chemist a small quantity of "bitter apple
powder," and sew it up in little silk bags. Place
one or two of these among the clothes, and no moth
will ever venture to thrust either its proboscis or its
ovipositor within a goodly distance of the bag, box,
or drawer wherein the powder lies. — L. V. H.

Silver in Surrey. — Three weeks ago some
workmen were excavating and forming a reservoir
for the waterworks at Moulsey, when, about thirty
feet below the surface of the earth, they discovered
a quantity of silver ore. A specimen of the quartz
shown to me appeared to be richly impregnated,
the ore running in large veins. Of the quantity
found, and the extent of ground it covered, I have
not been able to obtain any definite information. —
Thomas C. Oborn.

White Varieties.— A white variety of Coitaurea
nigra exists in several localities about here. fAl-
though not lessening the pest of the plant to the
agriculturist, nevertheless it interests the botanist
by its pretty white tufts. — W. T. Biff, Bpsom.

PiGHTiNG Ants. — As I have already stated in a
previous number, I am much troubled with red.
ants, which completely overrun my garden, twenty
or more colonies being established under one wall.
I can only destroy them with boiliug water, which
also kills the border plants. Any other remedy will
be thankfully received. The other morning I found
my little friends had been engaged in sanguinary
warfare ; dead ants covered the gravel paths for a
distance of about ten yards, while a numerous
"ambulance corps" were very busy carrying off the
dead. I have never found them actually engaged in
battle, so I suppose most of the fighting is done at
night, as the dead are very numerous in early
morning. If they go on at this rate much longer,
there will be no further need of boiling water !
judging from the multitudes of slain. — JoJin Hen-
derson, juu., Beading.

Chameleons Utilized. — It occurred to the
writer of this, some years ago, that it would not
ouly be highly interesting to keep chameleons for
the sake of observing their extraordinary habits
and mode of existence, but also that it would be
highly profitable to keep them as domestic pets, for
the ])urpose of lessening the torment and annoyance
we sutler from our common house flies {Miisca
domestica), and other more strange and travelling
insects ; and that for this utilitarian purpose
chameleons should be cultivated in those climates
they are natives of. Tliey would live comfortably
in our dwelling-houses, and certainly in such rooms
as are used as sitting-rooms, and where a fire is
constantly kept. Thus, by keeping these most
interesting creatures, who are unlimited warfarers
against flies, gnats, and all other such " small
deer," we might study and learn much that would
be instructive, and at the same time we could get
rid of the accursed plague of house flies and of
numerous other insects. — IF. Mawe.

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP,

215

Larva op a kind of Gnat. — There is a very
transparent larva of a gnat which sometimes
abounds in clear ponds, a description of which is
given in various books; but I have not seen its
food particularly mentioned. It feeds on other
animals, and I have found the common blood-worm
in its stomach. This is a curious object for the
microscope, as by pressing the creature between
two glasses the stomach is inverted, and forced
out of the mouth,'-! when it is seen" to be covered
with rows of spines' pointed backwards, I suppose
to retain its food-— ii". T. S.

Stakch in Gekanitjms. — I see that the pith in
geraniums has its cells pretty well filled with'starch.
Can anyone inform me if many other of our English
herbaceous plants resemble geraniums in this re-
spect, as I have not noticed the same thing in any
I have tried? Of course I do not refer to arums
or bulbous plants. The grains of starch are small
and irregular, but thev show the cross well with
polarized light.— 5". T. S.

Honey. — On what plants do the bees which
gather the honey sent from Narbonne feed, and will
they grow in this country ? There are three kinds
of pollen in the honey : one resembles a ball with
the equatorsfset at right angles to one another ; the
second and commonest is of an oval shape; and the
other round, and set with spines, — I expect from a
syngenesious plant.— .£'. T. S.

Thtnnus vulgaris (the Tunny of the Mediter-
ranean).— A fine specimen of this fish was taken in
the Laira, at the mouth of the Plym, near Ply-
mouth, on the 22nd of July last. It measured
9 feet long, was 5 feet 10 inches round the body,
and its tail was 3 feet wide. A photograph was
taken by Mr. Hamsey. I have several of the scales
left, and shall be happy to send them to any one in
exchange for Lepidoptera. — John Purdue, Bidge-
icay, Plympton, Devon.

Irritating Effkcts of Caterpillars' Hairs.
— I have found the short hairs on the outside of
the cocoon of Oak Eggar {Lasiocampa Quercils) very
annoying. The hairs of A. Cajci, the common Gar-
den Tiger, are also possessed of urticating proper-
tieswhen in cocoons ; the living larvfe of both have
no irritating effects whatever on my hands when
handled, however carelessly. — John Henderson, Juu.

Charas. — Will any correspondent kindly tell me
the best method of drying these plants ? They are
so extremely brittle that I have much dilSculty in
preserving them. — S. M. P.

RocKWORK FOR Aquariums. — Very beautiful
specimens of rockwork, suitable for small aquariums,
may be obtained by melting broken glass bottles in
a furnace. When intense heat is applied and the
glass kept in for a great length of time, it will
come out almost purely white, and often in the most
beautiful forms. — Jos. Laing.

"E,URAL Natural History."— On looking over
SciENCE-Gossip for the year 1867, at page 86 I
came on the above heading ; and on reading it dis-
covered three cures for whooping-cough, as stated
by Mr. R. Holland to be used by the inhabitants of
Chesire as infallible for the chink-cough, which is
identically the same name used in this locality for
■whooping-cough, with nearly the same remedies
used. — Recipe No. 1 : A lock of hair off a person
who has never seen his father, to be tied round
the child's neck. No. 2: Hairy caterpillar, or

granny,''if met with accidentally, to be wrapped up
in a cloth and tied round the child's neck. No. 3 :
If the parents of the child see any one riding on a
piebald horse, they are to follow him, and ask what
cure can he give for " chink " cough, and whatever
he says is a certain cure, no matter what. No. 4 :
A miller of the third generation of millers is to take
the child, and hold him in the mill-hopper while
the mill is going : a certain cure is efi'ected. No. 5 :
Take the child, and pass him three times nnder-
iieath an ass and over his back. I agree with Mr.
Holland that it would be most interesting if a col-
lection of curious and superstitious remedies about
plants and animals, which prevail amongst the
people, were collected from time to .time, and re-
corded in SciENCE-GossiP.

Net for Geometers. — The dusk of summer
evenings is one of the most favourable seasons for
netting moths of the Geometer family ; but even
when they are fairly inside one of the ordinary nets,
it is a difficult matter to see them. If, however, a
net made of thin white calico be used, the moths
are easily seen, and as they always settle down
when caught, they are easily boxed. — E. C. Lefroy.

Saffron {Colchicum autmnnale) grows very
plentifully about here (Much Wenlock) in the pas-
tures, and is a great nuisance to the farmers, as
they are obliged to have it pulled to prevent their
stock being poisoned by it. Erom personal observa-
tion, I am able to state that it flowers in September,
bearing only one purple flower ou each stem ; but no
vestige of a leaf. The leaves appear the following
April and May. The seed-bearing stem springs up
in the midst of the leaves. — /. S.

Heracleum giganteum. — Can any reader of
Science-Gossip tell me the real name of a plant,
the seed of which is sold in various shops as that of
Heracleum giganteum ? This, of course, is given ou
account of the size to which it grows, but gives no
clue to what the plant really is. It is umbelliferous,
and the stem is maculated as that of the hemlock ;
but, unlike that plant, is rough and hairy, and the
leaves much thicker and coarser,— some four feet
across. Indeed, it appears to be a sort of water-
hemlock, or Cicuta virosa ;_ but it grows in my
garden to the astonishing height of fifteen feet, and
has a head of bloom from a foot and a half to two
feet across. I was told it was a biennial, but I
have had it flowering for two successive years. Last
year it was not more than half its present height.
Will it grow any higher next ? Shade and plenty
of wet seem congenial to it. It would make a noble
ornament for the wilderness part of a garden. —
J. H. G.

Curious Turbot. — Dr. Norman, of Collin gwood
House, writes to Land and Water: — Mr. Samuel
Amis, fish-merchant, of King-street, in this town,
has. kindly forwarded me a very extraordinary
turbot, weighing about 12 lb. The dorsal fin of
this fish terminated near the head in a thick curved
projection resembling the vignette of a malformed
brill, in "Yarrell's British Fisheries," vol. ii. p. 242.
The head and gills were perfectly smooth, and of
a light flesh-colour; the belly, instead of being
white and flat, was exactly like the upper side, and
studded with the usual tubercles ; moreover, it was
remarkably convex, or plump, as Mr. Amis rightly
called it. I have seen several turbots with the
same skin on both sides, but perfectly flat, and our
oldest fishermen do not recollect one with the belly
resembling this.

316

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We must remind our friends, who make use of this column'
that the following riiles should be strictly adhered to :—
First. That perfect specimens be tent. Secondly. That all
the information as to habitat, Sec, that the inquirer can give
should be forwarded with them. Thirdly. To bear in mind
that drawings, unless very perfectly executed, are useless,
and a tyro is very apt to omit some distinctive characteristic
which would enable the examiner to decide the genus and
species of the object sent. Lastly. Never to send an object
for identification until the inquirer has used his best endea-
vours to find out for himself all the information he requires.
Questions are very frequently sent, which the slightest effort
on the part of querist in looking througli some elementary
treatise would have given all the knowledge required.

W. O. Nicholson. — The parasite on owl is a bird-fly
{OrnitJifimya), especially common on the Short-horned Owl.

G.— The eggs on the feather sent were laid liy Lipciirus
clji-aus, one of the Anopleura.

EiJwiN Smith.— The former scales are those of Seira
Busliii, one of the Poduradce (formerly included in the genus
Degeerid, but now separated from it by Lubbock). Tlie others
are either from the Pftrobins marltimiis of our coasts, or
from the inland species of Petrnbius.

T. C. Obor.v. — The insect taken from the Hedge-hog is the
common " Hedge-hog Tick " (Lrodes hexugonua), and, from
its size, doubtless a female.

W. B. C— The insects are A/io/jhrm slrintum, and arc
always destructive to furniture. The only certain remedy
(applied in the case of rare and valuable carvings) seems to
be the saturation of the wood with corrosive sublimate by
means of hydraulic pressure. Mr. Rye, however, recom-
mends, as a possible remedy, a good soaking with boihng
vater containing carbolic acid. See zoological pai'agraph in
present number of Science-Gossip.— C. G. B.

W. A Luff. — Nos. 1 and 2 <ire,Stritc/iia olerncca. 3. Car-
ponoris nifcricornis. 4. Brtichypeltn aterrima. 5. (Edipoda
cariiltfscens. Nos. 1 and 2 are British species, but not com-
mon ; 3 is rare ; 4, not British ; and 5 is reputed British, but
there are no authentic examples.

F. V. Edwards. — Feed your anemones on small pieces of
mussels, or fine raw beef about once a day.

E. \V. — Thanks for the slides, which are admirably mounted.
You had best consult Stephen's " Illustrations of British
Entomology" for the names. The plant is Equisetum
nrvense.

Henry Tavlor. — Your specimen appears to be Nostoc
commxcne {Tremella terrestris, Dill.). Its reproduction is by
spherical cells, placed irregularly in the course of filaments,
from which they finally become separated. Try a little lime
for removing it.

LvDiA, M.P, — See above paragraph.

W. E. Sharp. — The eggs sent are — Nos. 1, 2, and 3, those of
the Green-finch [Fringilla chloris), and No. 4, Pied Wagtail
{Motacilla Yarrellii).

T. Baker. — The wine-bottle cork seems to be permeated
with the mycelium of some fungus, probably Mucorina ;
but, unless in fruit (which it is not), it is difficult to deter-
mine. Careful sealing tlie tops of the corks will prevent it,
unless the cork is already attacked, in which case it is useless.
This phenomenon is the equivalent of " dry-rot" in wood.

Henry Pearson. — Your mosses arrived all jumbled to-
gether, so that it was impossible to know how you had num-
bered them. They should be properly and separately mounted
before sending, and not loose. Send others.

W. E. H. — The phenomenon is very curious, but not un-
usual. See Dr. Master's '• Teratology."

W. C. — Many thanks for your present of Lichens.

Mosses.— ). llypnu)ii stflatum; 2. II. muHusctim ; 3. H.
cuprexsifurme, var. ericeturum ; 4. H. cuspidatum, and H.
fiuituns ; 5. H. ciiprfissif'iriiie. — R. B.

Dr. J. P. H. B. — 1. Your Cnphea (which we suppose to be
identical with tliat described by you in Science-Gossip for
18/1, p. 187) is the C. pldtiictntra. Earth., which is figured
and described by Mr. Robert Holland at p. 81 of the same
volume. Griesbach refers to its naturalizing itself in the
West Indies, and cites C. micropctala, Kth., as a synonym.
2. Yes ; Vn-onirii iirborescfns. 3. We regret that we cannot
identify from your descrijition the conifer known as "Jeru-
salem Candlestick ;" we will, however, bear it in mind. — B.

Mrs. Marlani).— The slug sent is Tesfurel/a haliotidca.
See Tate's " Lritish MoUusks." London ; Ilardwicke.

J. CaicHTON.— See article on "Collecting and Preserving
Flowering Plants and Ferns," in the May number of Gossip.
Mrs. Lankester's " Plain and Easy Account of British Ferns "
(London ; Hardwicke) will furnish you with all the informa-
tion you want.

Anonymous— We are obliged to adhere to our rule of not
attending to anonymous correspondence.

Jos. Laino.— The egg is that of the Yellow-ainmer. The
crystals are selenite, or sulphate of lime.

T. P.— It is most likely the larva will come out next
season.

S. M. P. — The specimen is Chnrahispida.

James Crichton.— Your specimen is Liverwort {Mar-
chantia polymorphu) , ____^_

EXCHANGES.

Notice. — Only one " E.xchange " can be inserted at a time
by the same individual. The maximum length (except for
correspondents not residing in Great Britain) is three lines.
Only objects of Natural History permitted. Notices must be
legibly written, in full, as intended to be inserted.

Erratum.- — Mr. Ford's address in last month's Gossip
should have been " Stamford " instead of " Hamford."

AuLAConiscus KiTTONi, with 6,7, or 8 processes, offered
for one with i> or 10.— Mr. Hamrele, 46, Charlotte Street,
Hull.

Six slides, illustrating anatomy of Calabar Beetle (Pen-
tondon quadrens), offered in exchange for six other correctly
named slides. Animal structure preferred.— Edward Ward,
9, Howard Street, Coventry.

British dried plants to interchange. — J. Harbord Lewis,
ISO, Mill Street, Liverpool, S.

Duplicates. — lo polychluros, semele, rhamni ; Larva: of
jucobce ; Eggs and imagos of nuriflua ; Eggs of samhtt-
catd. Offers requested. — William Mann, 17, Wellington
Terrace, Clifton, Bristol.

Eggs of Kinpfisher, Cuckoo, Hawfinch, Curlew, Oyster-
catcher, Mute Swan, Bernicle Goose, Sparrow-hawk, and
Kestrel Hawk, for other good eggs. Unaccepted offers not
answered. — Fred. Anderson, Alresford, Hants.

Parmelia parietina, on receipt of good unmounted
object and stamped addressed envelope. — C. J. Jones, Gilmore
Range, Shaw Heath, Stockport.

yEciDiuM RUBELLUM for unmouiitcd object. — Address,
enclosing stamped envelope, W. Dutton, 17, Hewitt Street,
Hightown, Manchester.

Dendritic spot on paper and other slides for mounted
objects.— T. W. Cowan, Horsham.

Good Slides, or payment, for specimens of Mole Cricket
Hornet, large green Grasshopper, Blatta gigus. Fresh speci-
mens preferred. — C. L. Jackson, Clarendon Terrace, Bolton.

Foreign Shells, with name and locality, in exchange for
British Birds' Eggs.— F. Chester, 30, Smollett Street, Ken-
sington, Liverpool.

Wanted, Silicious Cuticles, &c. for polariscope, in ex-
change for Diatomaceas and other good objects. — H. E. Free-
man, 1, Rose Villas, Wood Green, N.

For portion of skin of British Shark, or Dog-fish, send
stamped and directed envelope, with object of interest.
Mounted slides preferred. — Direct, F. S., Post-office, Rugeley,
Staffordshire.

British Lepidoptera in exchange for either British or
Foreign Lepidoptera.— T. Pickin, Mount Fields, Frankwell,
Shrewsbury.

Hairs from seed pod of Leucodendron argenteum (Zanzi-
bar), mounted for polariscope; Pollen of Mallow, Cluster-
cups from Willow-herb, i^c, for other well-mounted objects.
— J. Ford, Stamford.

Vertigo pyc.m.ea for Helix fusca; Helix lamellata for
authentic specimens of H. concinna. — G. S. Tye, 58, Villa
Road, Handsworth, Staffordshire.

Mountain Limestone Fish Remains for Old Red Sand-
stone species. — J. Hunter, Richmond, Yorkshire.

Larv.t: oi Arctia caja (Tiger-moth) for microscopic mate-
rial. Send list.— Rev. Jno. Hanson, 14, Bagby Square, Leeds.

For scales of Dunins iilcippiis and Vanessa clelia from West
Africa (mounted) send two good slides to E. Lovell, Holly
Mount, Croydon.

Palates (mounted) of Helix, Limax, Patella, Littorina,
&c.. Spiracles of Insects, &c., in exchange for pood objects,
mounted or unmounted. — Alfred Guthrie, Ward Road,
Dundee.

BOOKS RECEIVED.
" President's Address to the Liverpool Nat. Hist. Soc."
" Stone Implements." By John Evans, F.R.S. London:
Longmans,
" American Naturalist," fi^r July.
" Canadian Entomologist," for July.

Communications Reckivrd up to loth ult. from —
W. G. S.— C. C. A.— L.— S. M. P.-J. C— T. P.-J. L.—
W. O. N.— G.— E. W.— F. V. W.— \V. A. L.— W. B. C—
T. C. O.-E. S.-H. T. — L. M. P.— W. E. S.— T. B.-H. P.
— W. E. H.— W. C— J. C— J. H. G.— J. S.— E. C.L.— J. L.
— S. M. P.— J. H.— J. P.— E. T. S.— W. M.— W. T. L—
L. V. H.— J. R. S. C— T. B. B.— E. R. H.-C. R. E.— G. S.-
G. T. J— A. W. L.— M. A. D.— J. R. — T. O. W.— R. H.—
N. S. W.— A. H. — T. W. — S. I. — T. C. I.— S. H.— A. E. M.
— W. C— J. S. W.— F. K.-C. K.- W. S.— R. T. L.— VV. E.—
F. H. W.— H. A. A., &-c.

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

21;

COLLECTING AND PEESEEVING.

No. IX.-LICHENS.

By the Rev. J. M. Crombie, M.A., F.L.S.

UCH as it is to be regretted, it
cannot be questioned that of those
who have devoted themselves to
the study of botany, lichenists
have always been " few and far
between." While flowering plants
have had their hosts of enthusiastic
students, and while other classes
of cryptogamics have had due at-
tention paid to them, the study of
lichens has, up even to the present
time, been but too much neglected.
To many indeed the term conveys
only some faint and confused idea,
and though they know that there are
^ plants so called, they are at the same
time utterly ignorant of their nature.
Witb flowering plants, ferns, mosses, sea-
weeds, and even fungi, they have at least
some acquaintance, more or less accurate ; but
lichens they generally pass by with indifference,
regarding them merely as "time-stains" on the
trees, the walls, and the rocks where they grow.
Nay, we have even met with some professed,
and otherwise well-informed botanists, who, while
recognising certain of the larger and more con-
spicuous species as lichens, yet fancied that many
of the smaller and more obscure species were
merely inorganic discolorations. It is certainly very
difficult to account for such a state of matters at the
present day, when so much attention is being paid
to almost every other class of plants. Vainly have
I sought either in the nature of the case itself or in
my conversations with botanists, for any intelligible
solution of such apathy and neglect ; though many
good and sufficient reasons have presented them-
selves to my mind why they should be regarded in
a very different light. It cannot with any show of
propriety be objected that lichens are an uninter-
No. 94.

esting class of plants, and consequently undeserving
of serious study. So far from this, they are in vari-
ous respects as interesting not only as any other
class of cryptogamics, but also as many other plants,
which occupy a higher and more conspicuous place
in the scale of vegetation. Being as it were the
pioneers of all other plant life, for which they serve
to prepare the soil on the coral islet and the barreu
lock, — constituting the most generally diffused class
of terrestrial plants on the surface of the globe, from
arctic lands to tropical climes, — presenting essential
simplicity of structure, being composed entirely of
an aggregation of cells, though at the same time this
is amply compensated for by endless variety of form,
— adorning as they do, with their variously coloured
thalli and apothecia, the most romantic and the most
dreary situations, — affording in some cases valuable
material for the dyer and the perfumer, nay, even
for medicinal purposes, — supplying, as some of them
do, more or less, nutritious food for man and beast,
under circumstances and in regions where no other
can be had, — it is very evident that the prevailing
neglect of them cannot arise from their being in
any way uninteresting, and destitute either of beauty
or utility. Nor does this, as might be inferred,
result from any peculiar difficulty attending their
study. There indeed seems to be a notion prevalent,
not only amongst the students of pha^nogamic, but
also amongst those of cryptogamic plants, that there
are, somehow or other, almost insuperable difficulties
connected with the pursuit of Lichenology. Now,
it is quite true that the correct study of these plants
is by no means an easy one, and that an accurate
knowledge of them is not to be obtained in a day
or an hoar ; but the same may, with equal truth,
be said of any other branch of Phytology, which
requires minute research and microscopical ex-
aQiination. Here, as elsewhere, there is no royal
road to learning, and the difficulties which lie in

218

HARDWiCKE'S SCIENCE- GOSSIP.

the way must be boldly faced. If the student can
only muster up sufficient courage to cross the
threshold, and prosecute his investigations with
zeal and steady perseverance, he will find in this,
as in other cases, that the difficulties which looked
so formidable at a distance, will, cue by one, be
successfully surmounted.

But to whatever cause the paucity of lichcuists,
both in our own and other countries, is to be
attributed, it certainly does not originate in any
difficulty connected with their collection and preser-
vation. In fact, there is no other class of plants,
where these, and more especially the latter, can be
so easily effected, at a little expenditure of time and
trouble. A few simple directions are, therefore, all
that are necessary to be given on these points. As
to the collecting of lichens, it has already been
intimated that they are almost universally distri-
buted, though of course in this respect subject to
the same laws as the higher orders of vegetation.
In our own country we have now a list of about
800 species, constituting by far the greater pro-
portion of the Lichen Flora of Europe. In most
parts of Great Britain and Ireland, a very fair
number of these may readily be gathered, capable,
as they are, of existing in almost every situation
where they can derive requisite nourishment from
the atmosphere. On the rocks and boulders of the
seashore and the mountain-side, on the trunks and
branches of trees in woods and forests, on peaty
soil of bare moorlands, and on stone fences in up-
land tracts, nay, even on old pales and walls in
suburban districts, a goodly harvest may generally
be reaped. Few localities indeed there are, within
the area of these islands (London and its environs,
where the atmosphere is so impregnated with
smoke, being the. chief exception), in which the
Hellenist will find his occupation gone. True, it is
only in some more favoured tracts, chiefly maritime
and montane, that he can expect to meet with many
of our rarer species ; but even in most lowland
districts, especially such as arc well wooded, he
may, with profit, pursue his researches, and collect
various of the more common species. These will
just be as useful in making him acquainted with the
structure and physiology of lichens as though he
had gathered the rarest that grow on Ben Lawers
or by Killarney's lake. The apparatus requisite for
collecting is neither complicated nor expensive.

A tin japanned vaseulum, or what is perhaps
better still, a black leather haversack, of larger or
smaller dimensions as the case may be, suspended
over the shoulder by a strap, is of course indispen-
sable for holding the specimens gathered. The
latter of these we have found to be more generally
convenient, as we can take it with us also for a
short ramble, without its attracting so much atten-
tion from curious rustics, as the less-known and
more singular-looking vaseulum. Two sets of in-

struments are also necessary for removing the plant
from the substratum on which it grows, as well as
for breaking off in many cases a thin portion of the
latter along therewith. These are a geologist's
hammer and chisel for such as grow on rocks,
boulders, and stones ; a gardener's pruning-knife
for such as grow on trees, pales, and the ground ;
as also an ordinary table-knife for detaching, by
insertion under them, such foliaceous species as can
thus be separated from the substratum. To these
must be added several sheets of soft and moderately
thick paper, cut into ditferent' sizes (some news-
papers suit remarkably well), in which to wrap up
the individual specimens and prevent them rubbing
against each other ; a few card-boxes also, of various
sizes, in which for greater safety to place any of the
more brittle species, or fragments of the rarer ones,
by themselves ; and a pocket lens of good magnify-
ing power, by which we may be able to detect on
the spot those minuter species which the naked eye
can with difficulty distinguish. With these the
lichenist is fully equipped for an excursion, whether
" near at hand or far away," and, with waterproof
and umbrella, is ready to take the field even in
threatening weather. A good deal of discrimination
must be used in the selection of specimens for
removal, which, in all cases where such can be
obtained, ought to be fertile, with both apothecia
and spermogones fully developed. Hence, such as
are too old or too young, may be passed by, as
neither the spores nor spermatia, by which alone,
in many instances, they can be determined, will be
found in a normal condition, any more than the
thallus itself. The specimens gathered ought in
every case to be of sufficient size to show distinctly
the character of the thallus and of the fructifica-
tion. Where, however, the thallus, as it frequently
does, spreads very extensively over the substratum,
it will be sufficient to break off such a portion from
the circumference towards the centre, as will give
an adequate idea of the more important character-
istics of the plant. This is a point of considerable
consequence ; for should a portion be taken off from
the circumference alone, or from the centre alone,
it will often be entirely unsuitable for showing the
real nature of the plant, and be quite useless for
purposes of description. A little experience, how-
ever, will serve to prevent the commission of a
mistake, into which, judging from the number of
imperfect specimens which ar.e sent me to be
named, beginners are very apt to fall. Practice will
also in time enable the tyro to use the hammer and
chisel in such a way as to obtain neat specimens of
saxicole species — a matter of importance with re-
spect to their subsequent mounting. As to the
best season for collecting, I need scarcely remind
the reader that lichens arc perennial plants, re-
markable for their longevity, and that during the
whole year round they may be found in fruit. The

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

219

lichenist has not to wait for any particular month
or months, as other botanists have to do, before be
can collect the objects of his search in a fully-
developed condition. Spring, summer, autumn, and
even winter, except when the snow conceals all
vegetation beneath its white mantle, are all alike to
bim, and in each he will find every species of lichen
in perfection. At the same time, he will be most
successful after a shower of rain or a slight frost
has fallen, inasmuch as, becoming swollen with the
moisture then imbibed, many of the minuter species,
which might otherwise be overlooked, are more
readily perceived, and the foliaceous species more
easily removed from the substratum to which they
are more or less closely affixed.

Nothing more need be said on the collecting of
lichens, as a short experience will be more useful
thau further details. We proceed, therefore, to give
a few hints on their subsequent preservation. This
is a very easy process, presenting no difficulty
whatever, and occupying but little time. We
shall suppose that the collector has returned
from a successful expedition, with his vasculutn
or haversack well filled vfith specimens from all
sorts of habitats. Openmg the papers in which
they have been wrapped up, he will take them
out one by one, and place them separately upon
a table, over which a newspaper has previously
been spread. If gathered in wet weather, they
ought not to be left long in the papers, as in this
case they are very apt to become covered with
mould. After allowing them to remain in this
position till they are thoroughly dry, he may at
once proceed with hammer and chisel, or with
knife and scissors, to reduce to a suitable size such
of them as he could not conveniently thus manipulate
in the field. When this is done, they may then be
affixed with gum, of a rather thick consistency, to
slips of white paper, with the locality and date of
their collection written beneath. There will be no
difficulty felt in thus affixing saxicole, corticole,
and lignicole species, though where the nature of
the stone or wood is more absorbent, several appli-
cations of the gum may be necessary before they
properly adhere. With terricole species, however,
a somewhat more lengthened process is necessary,
owing to the brittle nature of the substratum, in
consequence of which, if not properly preserved,
they often crumble into dust in the herbarium. To
prevent this, M. Norman, of Trotnsoe, Norway, has
recently prescribed a solution of isinglass in spirits
of wine, which, when liquefied in a vessel plunged
in water of the temperature of 25°-30^ C, is
greedily imbibed by the earth, and becomes inspis-
sated into a solid gelatine at a temperature below
15°. This solution may be applied until the earth
becomes thoroughly saturated, and after it is
perfectly dry, the specimen will possess sufficient
hardness and tenacity, and may then be mounted

like the others. So far, however, as my own ex-
perience goes, I have found a weak solution of gum-
arabic, frequently repeated, and applied to the
under surface and edges of the specimens, to be
quite as efficacious; and if after becoming thoroughly
dry, they be first affixed by a thicker solution to
slips of thin tissue-paper, they will be equally ready
for being mounted as above. Either of these two
methods may also with advantage be applied to such
species as grow upon decayed mosses. Slight pres-
sure may be applied to the thallus of fruticulose,
filamentose, and foliaceous species, in order that
they may lie better in the herbarium ; but this
should be done only to a very limited degree, so as
not to obliterate the normal appearance of the
branches or lobes. As the character of the under
surface of the thallus is frequently of great im-
portance, at least in foliaceous and fruticulose
plants, a portion of this, not Hecessarily detached,
should be turned over, for facility of inspection,
and pressed down on the paper, before the speci-
mens have become quite dry and rigid. In order to
destroy any insects that may be upon the plants
when gathered, or by which they may afterwards be
infested, Hellenists at one time were in the habit of
poisoning them with corrosive sublimate. Erequent
exposure, however, to the air in dry weather, and
the presence of a little camphor, will be quite
sufficient to prevent any mischief from this source.
But having thus arranged, though the arrangement
is but temporary, the specimens gathered, on slips
of white paper, the next and most important point
is their due examination and determination. This
in the present advanced state of Lichenology, is
unquestionably, in many cases, a task of considerable
difficulty, and in the short space at our disposal, it
would be quite impossible to give anything like an
adequate explanation of the mode in which this is
to be effected. Suffice it at present to say that
sections must be made of the thallus to ascertain
the character of its different layers, as also sections
of the apothecia and spermogones to ascertain the
nature of the spores and spermatia. Eor both
purposes a good microscope, with i-inch object-
glass, is absolutely indispensable to the student.
The examination of the spores, upon which, in so
many cases, the determination of the species chiefly
depends, should present little or no difficulty, at
least to the fungologist. It may be readily effected
by moistening the apothecium with water, and then,
with a dissecting-knife, making a thin vertical
section through its centre. Putting this on a glass
slide, or in a compressorium, in a drop of hydrate
of potash, and then placing it under the microscope,
a view will be obtained of the asci, spores, para-
physes, hypothecium, &c., each of which may after-
wards be insulated and examined more minutely in
detail. Take, for example, the well-known beautiful
yellow lichen {Phi/scia parietitia), so common every-

l2

220

EARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

where on walls, rocks, and trees, and treat a very
thin section of the mature apothecium as above.
Under the microscope it will thus appear —

Fig. 143. Section of ThyscUi parietina. a, Paraphyses;
b, Asci with spores; c, Hypothecium ; d, Section of
apotliecium ; e. Spore.

In the same way the spermogones may be ex-
amined, when the nature of the sterigmata and
spermatia will be apparent. By cutting across
the thallus of the above species, we can perceive
even by the naked eye that it consists of three
different layers, which when microscopically ex-
amined present the following appearance —

%^

J>a^o^o

Fig, 149. Section ol P/iijscia parietina, a, Cortical stratum;
b, Gonidic stratum ; c, Medullary stratum.

But inadditionto this microscopical examination, it
is also requisite to observe the different chemical re-
actions produced ontheasciorthc hymenealgelatiue
with iodine (I), which will tinge these either bluish or
reddish wine-coloured, or else leave them uncoloured.
Similarly the thallus, including both the cortical
layer and the medulla, may be tested with hydrate
of potash (K), and hj'pochlorite of lime (C), the
latter being applied either by itself or added to K
■when wet. In some cases' no reaction will be pro-
duced by these cither upon the cortical stratum or
the medulla ; in others they will be tinged yellowish
or reddish. The formula for the preparation of
these reagents are : for iodine, iodine, gr. j ; iodide
of potash, gr. iij, distilled water, 4- oz. ; for hydrate
of potash, equal weights of caustic potash aud water;
for hydrochloriteof lime, chloride of lime and water
of any strength. After correctly ascertaining the

specific name of the specimens collected, this is to
be written on the slips of paper to which they are
affixed, above the locality and date, aud the best of
them, including all varieties and forms, selected for
subsequent mounting in the herbarium. This may
be effected either in the same way as the mounting
of phanerogamic plants, or by affixing the specimens
to pieces of millboard covered with white paper,
and arranging them according to the order of the
genera and species in the system of classification
which may be adopted. Tor facility of reference
the latter is undoubtedly the preferable method ;
and if the cards are disposed in a cabinet with
shallow drawers, they will not, so far at least as our
British species are concerned, be found to occupy
too much space.

Newcomen Road, West Finchley, N. W.

A NEW SPECIES OF PROTOCYSTIS.

DR. "VVALLICH, in a paper on some uudescribed
Testaceous Rhizopods, read before the Royal
Microscopical Society, publishes a new genus of
Rhizopods, which he had discovered in the North
Atlantic soundings. This genus, he says, " is very
scarce in the deposits, and he had not been able to
detect a single specimen in which the sarcode body
was even partially visible, although, from the
general appearance and characters of the siliceous
shell, it seems highly probable that they are related
to the genus Cadium, Bailey. They exhibit one strik-
ing peculiarity, which is sufficient to warrant their
being provisionally placed in a separate genus. I
allude to the possession of a process which, in one
variety at least, appears capable of being detached
from the main body of the shell, as if it were con-
stituted of a distinct and separate portion. To this
genus I have given the name of Protocystls, leaving
the exact nature of the sarcode body of this genus
and [of Cadium to be determined when an oppor-
tunity of examining their living tissues shall have
been obtained."

Class Rhizopoda.

Order 3. Proteina.

Earn. 1. Actinophryna.

Genus PROTOCYSTIS (Wallich). — Shell sili-
ceous, entire, hyaline, subglobular ; surface of shell
filled with minute circular depressions.

P. «M/7Y«.— Shell nearly orbicular ; anterior aper-
ture surmounted by two acuminate processes,
which are bent downwards from the erect position ;
the processes are perfectly plain, the line of union
between them and the body distinctly marked;
diameter 5^17 of an inch (fig. 350, a). North Atlantic
deposits, in 871 fathoms. Fig. 150, b, the same, with-
out processes.

P. (7/oi«/tfm (Wallich).— This form resembles the
last in general outline aud marking of the siliceous

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

221

shell, but the anterior aperture is not everted. It
may be only an imperfectly developed variety.

P. cuspidata (Wallich).— Siliceous, hyaline ; body
oval, surmounted at one extremity by two, and at
the other by a single mucrouate process ; surface
of shell] grooved longitudinally and transversely
striate.

d

Fig,

150. a. Frotocystis nurila, b. Ditto, var.
c. P. globularin. d. P. cuspidata.

Only a single specimen, and that mounted in
balsam, was obtained by me ; thus no opportunity
was afforded for tracing out its characters more fully.

North Atlantic, 2,000 fathoms (Cg. 150, d).

The preceding are all the species described and
figured by Dr. Wallich. I have now to add another
species to this remarkable genus, and I have great
pleasure ia naming it after that eminent naturalist
and raicroscopist.

P. WalUchiaiia (Kitton). — Body siliceous, circular
in front view, side viewovate; process single, straight,
hyaline ; surface of body finely punctate ; colour in
balsam pale brown. Eig. 152, a side view.

Algoa Bay Guano.

Fig. 151. Frotocystis Wallichiana, x 400.

Fig. 152. Side view of Frotocystis Wallichiana.

This very fine form was not uncommon in guano
from Algoa Bay. My old friend and correspondent,
the late J. Norman, Esq., of Hull, provisionally
named it Coscinodisus caudatus, and I believe dis-
tributed slides of it under that name. In Dr.Wal-
lich's description of the figures, P.globiduris is called
P. lageniformis, and P. ctispidafa, P. spinifera.

E. Kitton.

EOSSIL MONKEYS.

IN view of the discussion on the antiquity of
man, and his probable descent, it will not be
uninteresting to notice those quadrumauous animals
which stood highest in the natural history scale
before man made his appearance, and the relative
epochs at which they lived. Erom the following
brief notes on an article in the Annals of Natural
History for September, it will be seen that some of
the existing genera of monkeys have a great an-
tiquity. The greater part of the fossil monkeys
known up to the present day belong to the Miocene

222

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE - GO S S IP.

deposits. Dr. Falconer was the first to find them
in the Miocene strata of the Sewalik Hills in
Northern India, in 1S36. In 1S37 M. Lartet
communicated to the Academy of Sciences the dis-
covery of a quadrumanous animal in a Miocene
fresh-water deposit at Sansan, which was subse.
queutly named PllopitJiectis antlquus. An allied
species was found in 1SG2 in the fresh-water st);ata
of the Molasse, in the canton of Zurich. This form,
however, does not approach the anthropomorphic
ape so much as the preceding. In 1S5G M. Lartet
described another anthropomorphous ape, which he
named Dryopitliecus. So much did the teeth of this
species resemble those of man that they have been
frequently mistaken for human molars. M. Fraas
also described a species of fossil monkey, from
the Miocene bed of Steinheim, in Wiirtemberg,
which he believed belonged to a species of
Colohus. It is in the Pikermi deposits in Attica,
Greece, that the most numerous remains of monkeys
have been found, but always confined to a single
species, called Mcsopithecus PenteVici. Of this, M.
Gaudry sent to Paris the remains of no fewer than
twenty-five individuals. Another Miocene monkey
has been found in the sands of Eppelsheim, of the
same age as the Pikermi beds. In deposits newer
than the Miocene, the Macacus plioccenus has been
found in the brick- earth of Gray's Thurrocks, Essex.
The remains of another species, called Semnopithemis
monspessnianus, have been found in the fresh-water
marls of Montpellier, of Pliocene age. Another
species, met with in the same beds, has been named
Macacus priscus. Lastly, in the Brazilian bone-
caves, five species of platyrrhine monkeys have
been found, showing that the American type has
been long in existence. One form, Protopitliecus
brasilicnsls, surpassed in size the largest of the
living American monkeys, the Mycetes, with which
it'.had some relations. Altogether, nineteen species
of fossil monkeys have been described. The Eocene
deposits have as yet only furnished one species, of
which the determination is certain. Until quite
recently, fossil monkeys were unknown in the
different fossilifei ous formations of Italy, but Dr.
C. J. F. Major has just described one belonging to
the genus Macacus, which is nearly allied to the
European form now inhabiting the rocks of Gib-
raltar. This fossil is believed to come from the
Val d' Arno, and of Pliocene age. The animal
was a contemporary of the Elephas meridionalis.
Rhinoceros etruscus, &c. Another monkey, a Cerco-
pithecus, is also announced as having been discovered
in the lignite of Monte Bamboli, in Tuscany. Still
another is represented by several teeth, &c., in the
Pisa Museum, from a Pliocene lignite in the Val
d' Arno. It will be seen, therefore, that if we are
descended from the monkey family, we have more
than one stock to choose from in the construction

of our genealogical tree !

J. E. T.

THE POTATO DISEASE.

By Worthingtox G. Smith, F.L.S.

rpHE stormy weather, and warm, humid air
-■- of the present season, have been peculiarly
favourable to all fungoid growths; therefore, as
might have been expected, the potato disease has
been more than ever prevalent and destructive.
Accounts reach us on all sides of the serious
failure, or even total destruction, of the potato
crops from the ravages of this insidious pest. How
and when it was first observed, what it is, and how
to extirpate it, are the three very serious questions
which have occupied the attention of scientific men
for nearly thirty years. The two first questions can
now be pretty satisfactorily answered; but as for
tlie third, it is an enigma which has at present
baffled every attempt at solution.

A brief summary of what is known of the potato
disease, with a new series of illustrations, drawn to
a uniform scale, cannot fail to be of interest to aU
readers of Science-Gossip; and in writing this
summary and engraving these illustrations, I am
bound at once to disclaim all originality, and to say
that for nearly all the facts known respecting the
potato disease we are in the main indebted to the
careful and accurate observations of the Rev.
M. J. Berkeley. These observations, witli those of
Dr. Montague, Dr. Pay en, De Bary, and others,
are spread over the literature of the last quarter of
a century, and as their perfect accuracy has now
been confirmed by microscopists in every direction,
little more can be done than to present these
observations in their proper sequence and entirety.
Therefore, it must be understood that I am briefly
recording what I have seen of the potato disease,
after being told what to look for, and how to see
and understand it by Berkeley, and other of our
foremost scientific writers.

The autumn of lSi5 will be ever memorable as
marking the great outburst of the potato murrain
over the whole of Western Europe and the northern
parts of the United States of America ; the disease
had, however, been very bad the previous year in
America, and was even observed in Europe, and
repoited, upon in that year by Desmazieres, wlio
read a paper upon it at Lille. Even in 1841 Dr.
Morren detected it in Belgium, and then and there
published a notice of the fungus, and some sug-
gestions for contending against it, such as imme-
diately removing the diseased haulm, &c. But even
so far back as 1830 a disease of potatoes was ob-
served in Germany, and called tlie " dry-rot ; " and
it is very probable that the first detection of the
potato disease dates back for nearly a century.
One year before its virulence reached its height iu
this country, viz. 1811, it occurred iu its worst form
in Canada, and a letter addressed to Dr. Bellingham

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

223

in that year, and published in Saunders's Xetcs
Letter, gives a graphic account of its ravages. The
letter says :—" During the months of July and
August we had repeated and heavy showers, with
oppressive heat, and an atmosphere strongly charged
with electricity. Towards the close of the month
of August I observed the leaves to be marked with
black spots, as if ink had been sprinkled over them.
They began to wither, emitting a peculiar offensive
odour ; and before a fortnight, the field, which had
been singularly luxuriant, and almost rank, became
arid and dried up, as if by a severe frost. I had the
potatoes dug out during the mouth of September,
when about two-thirds were either positively rotten,
partially decayed, and swarming with worms, or
spotted with brownish-coloured patches, resembling
flesh that had been frost-bitten. These parts were
soft to the touch, aud upon the decayed potatoes I
observed a whitish substance like mould." From
careful consideration of the earliest recorded cases
of this disease, there can be little doubt of its
American origin, or indeed from its dating back
from a very early period. A superficial thinker
might be inclined to fall back upon the theory of
" spontaneous generation," and so account for the
origin] of the potato fungus, about ISiO; but
although Feronospora infestaiis belongs to a genus
numbering some forty species, all more or less
alike, and all parasitic upon living plants, yet
the specific characters of P. infestans appear so
distinct (such as in the peculiar swellings on the
thread-like stems, &c.), that no observer of natural
objects accustomed to distinguish one thing from
another, could for a moment think of considering
P. infestans as a mere form of some immediate ally.
Its real origin, like the origin of all plants, animals,
diseases, &c., probably dates into the far past, and
is likely to be ever involved in obscurity. Nothing
is so difficult (or even impossible) as to trace things
to a beginning : this has often been attempted in
regard to the diseases with which man is aifected,
but with little success ; no one can tell how or from
whence scarlet and typhus fever and other ailments
really originated. Epidemic cholera is said to have
originated in the delta of the Ganges in 1S17 ; but
it seems highly probable (if this or anything else
ever had a beginning), that if a searching investiga-
tion were made, its real origin would date from
remote antiquity. It is not generally known that
the fungus which produces the potato disease is by
no means confined to potatoes, but attacks other
members of the family to which the potato belongs ;
for instance, it is very common on the fruit of the
tomato, and has been detected on the common
woody-nightshade, or bitter-sweet of our hedges
{Solanum Dulcamara); it even does not confine itself
to the family to which the potato belongs {Solana-
ceee), but has been found upon Anthoceris viscosa,
a member of the Scrophulariacea; ; therefore, in

searching into the " origin" oi Feronospora infestans,
we not only have to look to the beginning of the
potato disease itself, but to the diseases of such
plants as the woody-nightshade and tomato. Little
was kmion of the disease as affecting potatoes in
this country till July, ISiS, when it ravaged the
south of England, the first printed record of its
alarming advent appearing in a letter from Dr.
Salter, in the Gardener's Chronicle for Aug. IG. So
rapid and devastating now was its progress in this
country, that Mr. Berkeley states few sound pota-
toes were to be found in Covent Garden market a
fortnight after its first recorded appearance, and
though at this time it had not reached the Midland
Counties, yet in a few days it was general. At
the beginning of September it was recoi'ded from
Ireland, and a few days afterwards from Scotland,
at which time the full power of the potato murrain
was expending itself upon the British isles. About
this period (as now) the leading newspapers teemed
with balderdash and the most alarming, absurd, and
contradictory accounts, some writers attributing
the disease to an epidemic resembling cholera;
others to animal manure used in cultivation, to
microscopic insects, railways, or electric influences ;
whilst some persons asserted it was a sign of the
break-down of the potato-plant from over-cultiva-
tion ; or that it was caused by the tubers being cut
in pieces before planting. All the papers, grave or
gay, had something to say about it, and the potato
disease was even one of the stock subjects reserved
to joke about in the Christmas pantomimes. On
one stage a gigantic tuber was brought on sur-
mounted by an equally gigantic aphis, a joking
allusion being at the same time made to the Aphis
vasi-tater. So serious, indeed, was the state of
things at this period, that three of the Governments
of Europe issued commissions to examine into the
cause of the murrain, and discover, if possible, the
remedy. It has frequently been remarked, that
just before a bad attack of the disease the leaves
and stems of the potato become a darker green and
appear more than usually luxuriant, as stated in the
letter addressed to Dr. Bellinghara above quoted.
This has been accounted for from the fact that the
mycelium of fungi is a great incentive to the pro-
duction of the green colouring matter of leaves ; we
may, therefore, safely assume that this appearance
is put on immediately after the germination of the
spores upon the foliage and stems. So rapid is the
growth of this parasite, that in four or five days
after this germination the tissues of the leaves
become traversed in every direction by the
mycelial threads, and the fruit-bearing branches
are protruded through the breathing-pores on the
under side of the leaves, as shown in fig. 153. The
parasite never appears on the upper surface, which
is impervious to its attacks ; but in perfecting
itself, and producing its abundant fruit, it totally

22i

HAIIDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

destroys the matrix on wliicli it grows, and causes
the leaves to putrefy and dry up. Perfect specimens
are seldom ' met with on potato stems ; but the
destructive mycelial tlu'cads descend them, and so
reach the tuber. The>tcm now, like the leaves,
rapidly rots, and falls upon the earth an offensive
mass. So rapid and fatal is the growth of this
fungus, that in a few days it will spread from
plant to plant over a large tract, and in less
than a week turn every stem and leaf in the
field to one lotten mass. Within these diseased
stems' are often found black masses of hardened

Fig. 153. Peronospora infestnns. Five days' growtli from
a spore, enlarged 400 diameters.

threads, which are believed to be the mycelial fila-
ments, in a resting and highly condensed but still
living state : these black threads have been described
under the name of Sclerotinm varinm. Another form
of this substance, very common just under the bark
of old trees, has been described under the name
of RMzomorpha ; this is probably the mycelium of
some Tohjporus in a high state of condensation :

similar threads have also been found on the wood-
work of old coffins. Returning to the young con-
dition of the potato fungus, we see it five days old
in fig. 153, where the distance from A to B shows
tiie thickness of the potato-leaf itself, magnified
400 diameters : A is the upper surface of the leaf,
and B the lower. The mycelial tlireads or spawn,
C, may be seen ramifying amongst the cellular
tissue of the leaf, whilst the fertile thread is shown
emerging through a breathing-pore, or stomate, D,
and branching and bearing (at present) immature
spores at E.

Fig. 154. Peronospora iiifestans, enlarged 150 diameters.

It is almost impossible to conceive of anything
which could have a more damaging effect upon a
plant than such a growth as this ; for, leaving out the
destructive nature of the mycelium within the leaf,
the whole of the leaves' mouths, or breathing-pores,
soon become completely choked up. It is some-
what analogous with a bad attack of croup in the
human subject, with the addition of an external
growth. Fig. 15i represents the mature condition
of the fungus enlarged to 150 diameters only : here

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

the characteristic swellinj^s on tlie branched threads
are shown, the stems bearing an abundance of
spores(which are analogous with seedsand reproduce
the parent) on their apices ; the tlircads, as in tlie
last figure, are seen emerging through a breathing-
pore on the lower surface (here inverted, better to
display the character of the fungus).

It is easy to see from this figure the damaging
effect the fungus must have upon the plant : the
fungus stems protrude from its mouths, and prevent
the emission of perspiration ; the potato-plant thus
gets surcharged with moisture, which rots the
stems and leaves, whilst the mycelium preys upon
the tissues.

rainy weather, or after heavy dews, and when
the leaves of potato-plants are all wet and blown
against each other by Ithe wind, a few zoospores,
originating from two or three infected plants, would
speedily contaminate a large field of potatoes : then,
when we remember the hundreds of thousands of
ripe ordinary spores blown about everywhere by the
wind, their rapid germination, and immediate re-
production of other ripe spores and new zoospores,
the rapid and fatal spread of the murrain remains
no longer a mystery.

Fig. 155. Peronospnra infestans, spores and zoospores,
enlarged 400 diameters.

When the mature spores (G, fig. 155) fall from
their apices, they readily germinate, as at H, H, by
rupturing their outer coat, and discharging their
contents : these contents immediately take the
form of confluent mycelial threads, and produce the
characteristic brown colour in the cellulose. The
spores in this figure are enlarged 400 diameters,
or to the same scale as fig. 153. In fig. 153, how-
ever, it must be remembered that the spores re-
presented are immature. In the perfect condition
of the potato fungus, certain privileged spores ac-
quire greater dimensions than others, as shown at
J, fig. 155 ; the contents of these privileged spores
become differentiated, and produce within them-
selves a number of distinct nucleated cells, wliich
at length are set free in the form of active zoo-
spores, each zoospore being furnished with two
thread-like processes (K), with which, when in
fluid, they are enabled to move rapidly about.
These bodies germinate exactly iu the same
way as the ordinary spores, by discharging their
contents through the ruptured outer coat (L),
and must play a very important part in the
economy of the plant, for it is manifest that
although they cannot move unless immersed
in fluid yet it can easily be imagined that during

Fig. 156. Periinospiira in/esfiins, spore germinating,
enlarged 400 diameters.

Fig, 156 shows a section through the stalk of a
potato-plant, with a single mature spore germinating
upon the surface, its mycelium penetrating the
epidermis (M) and cortical layer (N N).

Now, not only is Peronospora infestans able to
reproduce itself from its spores and zoospores, but
amongst the mycelium iu the intercellular passages
of spent potatoes are found other bodies which
there grow and fructify. These bodies, discovered
by Dr. Payen, though referred to the Sepedoniei
by Montague (the order next in succession to Muce-
dines, to which latter order the genus Peronospora
belongs), are considered by Berkeley and others to
be probably a secondary form of fruit (oospores)
of the potato fungus itself. These bodies, named
by Montague Artotrogus hydnosporus, are shown in

Fig. 157. Artotrogus hydnosporus, enlarged 400 diameters,

fig. 157 magnified 400 diameters ; the young Arto-
trogus being shown at 0 in its mother cell (with
threads), and at P free.

226

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

These bodies make the study of. the potato disease
more complicated, and its ultimate eradication far
more difficult ; for they do not gerniiuate at once (as
do the spores and zoospores), or perish, but remain
quiescent "for a whole season, till certain favourable
external conditions cause them to burst from their
sleep and reproduce the parent. Resting spores
and dormant sclerotioid tuberiform bodies are very
common amongst fungi, a very remarkable instance
being found amongst the Agaracini. In Agaricus
tuberosus, we have an agaric springing from a tuberi-
form base, which is invariably found growing from
the dead remains of the previous year's fungi, gene-
rally the RussuUc ; but we have found the sclerotia at
the bottom of the tubes of some of the Polyporei,
the perfect agarics emerging through the tubes.

Closely allied to the potato fungus is another
species found infecting chickweed {Stellaria media),
and named by Casparry Peronospora ahineanm.
In this species, and some others of the genus, male
organs, or antheridia, have been detected, as shown
at Q, fig. 158, where the mycelial filaments are shown

Fig. 158. Peronospora tilsinearum, enlarged 40D diameters.

bearing the oogone, with which the mature anthcri-
dium is shown in contact : the contents of these
cells are interchanged, and thus an oospore or resting
spore is produced. At E, is shown a section with
the inflated summit of the fecundating tube of the
antheridium (X) touching the gonosphere : this lat-
ter has a neat outline, produced by the membrane of
cellulose which has just been secreted.

At fig. 159 (S) is shown a ripe oospore, furnished
with its thick reticulated epispore, the surrounding
protoplasm having almost disappeared ; and at T a
ripe oospore, whose epispore has been detached by
maceration in water ; a thick, colourless endospore
remaining, composed of two thick layers contain-
ing protoplasm, with two unequal vacuities. The
fecundating tube may be seen still fixed in the
endospore at U. These oospores, or resting spores,
of the chickweed parasite, like those of the potato,
possess the singular property of remaining dormant
during the winter, and germinating (under favour-
able circumstances) during the following season.
. We have now glanced at the fungus and its

effect upon the foliage and stem ; but we are all of
necessity most interested in its fatal effects upon
the potato itself. In the vast majority of instances
the fungus makes its first wholesale attack upon
the leaves, sending its destructive mycelial threads
down the leaf-stalks into the stem, and thence, and
lastly, into the potato itself. If this takes place
when the potato-plants are young, growth is at once

Fig. 150. Peronospora alsineraum, enlarged 400 diameters.

arrested ; but if the plants are well established, the
tubers are found to be discoloured. This is
undoubtedly caused by the presence of the
fungus beneath the cuticle of the potato ; for
if the potatoes are taken up and kept in a
damp air for a day or so, the perfect parasite pre-
sents itself upon the surface. From the exterior
of the potato the fungus penetrates to the interior,
decomposing the tissues, and making the tuber a
suitable nidus for various other fungi, which are
not long in making their appearance. With the
decomposition comes the disgusting odour so well
known in connection with diseased potatoes ; the
diseased tuber is now attacked by insects, and its
end is one horrible fcetid mass. It generally
happens that the eyes are the last to succumb to
the disease ; and it is stated, that if these are cut
out and planted, i.hey grow into healthy plants ;
but if the fact is taken into consideration of the
resting spores being produced within the inter-
cellular passages of spent potatoes, and that these
resting spores are capable of lying dormant during
a whole season, it seems reasonable to imagine
that the planting of such eyes would be the one
certain means of spreading the disease.

That the fungus attacks apparently healthy
plants there can be no manner of doubt, the pre-
vailing opinion now being that it is by no means
necessartj that a plant should be in ill health for a
fungus to find thereon a suitable nidus. Contrary
opinions have, however, long been held, and are
still held on this point, many observers thinking
that excessive moisture, over-cultivation (if such
a thing be possible), electrical influences, or
attacks of insects, first affect the health of the
plant, and predispose it to succumb before the
attacks of the fungus. Mr. Alfred Smee, surgeon
to the Bank of England, has long held his ground
upon the hypothesis that the potato is first attacked

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

227

by an aphis, and so rendered a ready prey to the
Peronospora, and says from bis own observations
he believes that an aphis invariably punctures the
leaves before an attack of the fungus : he holds the
same views with respect to the Asconnjces of the
peach ; but Berkeley and others nail their colours to
the fungus, the whole fungus, and nothing but the
fungus,— and not without sufficient grounds; for,
amongst other reasons, the immediate allies of
the potato fangus do not prey upon decaying
matter ; other species of fungi do, but these do not.

Whilst it is comparatively easy to say when and
where the potato murrain was first brought promi-
nently into notice, and what the potato disease is, it is
by no means an easy matter to suggest an effectual
antidote to its ravages. Dr. Hooker has recently
published in the daily papers a plan devised by
Professor Henslow for preserving the nutritive
portions of diseased potatoes ; but, from its tedious
nature, it is nerer likely to be carried out to any
extent, or made use of by the people at large.
When the disease first appeared, a quarter of a
century ago, it was suggested tliat the moment it
became manifest in the leaves the whole crop
should be mown down and burnt before the de-
structive virus reached the tubers. Now, after all
this lapse of time, no better plan can be suggested ;
but such is the rapid growth of the fungus, that
unless the haulms be destroyed immediately on the
appearance of the parasite, it will be too lute : if a
week or less be allowed to elapse, the mycelium
will be in the tubers, and all the haulms a rotten
mass.

In the case of the vine disease, sulphur has been
found very efficacious ; but it is impossible to apply
the fumes of sulphur to the potato crops. Mr. Smee
Las destroyed Oidium in his grape-house with the
fumes of bisulphide of carbon ; but it is not easy to
see how any fumes can be applied in the open fields.

It has recently been said that it is a disgrace to
science and to scientific men that no perfect remedy
has yet been found for the ravages of the potato
disease : the same may be said, I presume, respect-
ing the ravages of the rinderpest, foot-and-mouth
disease, and cholera itself; but I fail to see the
disgrace to " scientific men." If there is any dis-
grace in the matter, it rests with those persons who
are commercially interested in the success of our
potato crops ; for, although we have had the fatal
disease amongst the potatoes for a quarter of a cen-
tury, these gentlemen have still the stupidest pos-
sible ideas of what it is, and how to cope with it ; as
is abundantly proved by the melancholy balderdash
recently printed in the newspapers.

13, North Grove West, Mildmay Park, N.

Candouk forbids me to say absolutely that any
fact is false because I have never been witness to
such a fact. — Gilbert White.

ANCIENT STONE IMPLEMENTS.*

TRULY a magnificent work, and one that will
delight the eyes of every antiquary and geolo-
gist in Europe ! It deals with one of the most in-
teresting and important of subjects, — the antiquity
of the human race, and the stages through which
poor humanity passed in its struggles to the light
of civilization. Before written history commenced,
a vast period had elapsed, compared with which that
circumscribed by legendary and historical literature
is but a spj'.n. Until the last few years, all our
knowledge of this epoch was most meagre ; for, ac-
cepting the long-taught doctrine of the appearance
of man upon the earth being merely a few thousand
years, all, or nearly all, of which was included in
written history, we never guessed at the marvellous
story that was hidden up in our valley gravels and
bone caverns. And now all this is becoming more
or less clear. Such antiquaries as Nilsson, Lyell,
Perthes, Tylor, Lubbock, and Evans have done
for pre-historic times what was so successfully
effected only a few years ago in architecture, when
all the mixed jumble of archaeological lore was re-
duced to the historic orders of "Norman," "Early
English," "Perpendicular," "Decorated," &c., and
it was discovered that every old church before the
Reformation might easily be referred to one of
these periods by its architectural characters. The
Danish antiquaries, we saj', did the same by ancient
stone and other implements and bronzes, and thus
founded the divisions of Early Stone Age {Palceo-
lithic). Newer Stone Age {Neolithic), kgQ of Bronze
and Age of Iron. Although none of these is rounded
off by a definite sharp line — any more than the
architectural periods are-— yet they are sufficiently
useful for classification, and to a wonderful extent
convey the actual truth concerning them.

Mr. Evans stands in the foremost rank of
pre-historic workers. None has more than he
helped to clear up those " dark ages " when Great
Britain was, as regarded her inhabitants, for a long
period in the condition that Captain Cook found
the aborigines of the South-Sea Islands. His
keen, almost intuitive, knowledge of ancient stone
implements is well known to every collector. So
indefatigable has he been that every fresh "find"
has at once brought him down. He has so entered
into the spirit of how these wonderful stone weapons
were formed without tlie aid of other tools than
natural pebbles or boulders, that he has made them
himself with such aid, and has patiently worked
with stick and sand until he, like some of his earlier
and no less skilful ancestors, produced a stone
hammer with a hole through for the handle ! Not-

* " The Ancient Stone Implements, Weapons, and Orna-
ments of Great Britain." By John Evans, F.R.S., F.S.A.,
&c. London ; Longmans & Co. 1S72.

228

HARDWICKE'S S CI E N CE- G O SS IP.

withstanding the variety of type of the ancient
weapons and ornaments, it is wonderful how those
of every country resemble each other, plainly
proving that the places where stone and flint im-
plements ^are still in use, are, to use a geological
phrase, merely " outliers " of a once universal con-
dition. We proceed to illustrate our remarks by

specimens, the blocks|of which||have|been kindly
lent us by the publishers for the purpose.

Eig. 160 is one of the earliest, or Paleolithic
types of flint weapons, obtained by striking the
piece longitudinally off a core. The implements
obtained in our valley gravels, in the terraces above
the present levels of rivers, are frequently of this
shape. From this earliest and rudest of forms we
have a gradual transition in the specimens to those
of the latest Neolithic period, when their art de-
velopment reached its highest finish. Tig. 161 is a

Fig. l60i PalEcolithic Flint Implenent, from Pressijny.

fig. l6l. Flint Inipkmcnt of early Neolitliic period.

specimen from Mildcnhall, in Suifolk, showing
general appearance, side view, and transverse sec-
tion. In this it is evident tiiat more skill has been
bestowed, whilst the circumstances under which it

Fig. lG2. Ncjlithic Implements.

was found indicate it tu be of a more recent date
than the preceding. Fig. 1G2 is from the same
place, and is still more neatly finished. All these

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

229

figures are drawn half-size. The broader end is
ground down by rubbing to a sharpish cutting edge,
the upper part remaining just as it was rudely cut

Fig. 16.3. Polished Stone "Celts."

out. We now come to the polished specimens,
formerly called "Celts," of which fig. 163, from
Coton, in Cambridgeshire, is a good general ex-

Fig. 164. Ancient Stone Implement mounted in a haft.

ample. The main difference between the Palcso-
Uthic and Neolithic (older and newer stone ages)
is that the weapons of the former are true fossils,
imbedded in such geological deposits as valley

gravels and stalagmitic bone breccias ; whereas the
latter are often met with on the surface, or in peat-
bogs or tumuli. Fig. 164 is useful, as showing the
way these polished stone weapons were mounted
for actual use. Singularly enough, we cannot go
into any decent museum without finding recent

Fig. 165. Perforated Stone Hammer.

specimens of stone weapons from the South-Sea
Islands mounted in a similar manner. This ancient
and valuable example owes the preservation oflthe

Fig. 16 J. tliiit Knife.

wooden handle to its being found in the peat which
once formed the bottom of a small lake or tarn in
Cumberland.

230

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

Eig. 1C5 afFords iis au illustration of quite another
class of stone implements, of neolithic date, and
that perhaps low down. It is a polished stone
hammer, four inches in length, made of granite,
and was found along with flint knives, arrow-
heads, &c., at Caithness. This tj'pe of stone
hammer is very prevalent in Scandinavia, and even
in North America. Eig. 1C6 gives us an example
of au ancient and useful curved knife, formed of
flint, which has been chipped out with the utmost
skill and care to the above form. This type is
almost peculiar to Britain, although specimens have
been obtained from Denmark approaching very near
to it. The intellectual development — if we may use
the word — which pould manipulate such examples
of industrial art as this and fig. 1C7, from so brittle
an article as flint, must have been tolerably high.
Both^these specimens are from Yorkshire.

Fig. 1G7. Flint Arrow-head.

In tig. 168 we go back again to palaeolithic times,
as the reader will apprehend from its resemblance
to the first example ; for this is a good repre-
sentation of tlie more ancient stone weapons, and is
from the celebrated Kent's Cavern, near Torquay.
If the ancient character of the valley gravels, with
their contained implements, carries back the anti-
quity of the human race, the cave weapons found
beneath the thick and slowly-accumulating stalag-
mite of the floor do even more. At the late meeting
of the British Association, Messrs. Pengellj', Boyd-
Dawkins, and others, expressed their opinion that,
from the specimens found in Kent's Cavern and
their position, man must have appeared on the
earth before the glacial epoch ! Eor more elaborate
details as to this ancient cavern, as well as to the
more modern ones of Somersetshire and the south

of France, we must refer our readers to Mr. Evans's
book. Eig. 1G9 is the portion of a flint core from
Kent's Cavern, showing how the ancient knives
were made by striking off flakes, exactly as may
still be seen in the manufacture of gun flints in
Norfolk and Suffolk.

Fig. l6s. PalKoIithic Flint Implement from Kent's Cavern.

Fig. 1C9. Flint Core.

Space forbids us to do justice to the merits of
Mr. Evans's book, which contains no fewer than five
hundred woodcuts, besides plate illustrations. It
is by far the fullest and most exhaustive work of its
kind that has yet appeared, whilst the style in
which it is written, although terse enough to show
the autlior is in earnest, is nevertheless clear and
attractive. Eew books, during the present year,
or for many to come, will deservedly attract more
notice than that we have been endeavouring to
introduce to our readers.

J. E. T.

THE "EMPEROR" MOTH.
(Saturnia Pavonia-mimr.)

THIS beautiful insect is deservedly called the
" Emperor " of moths ; in fact, it occupies the
same position among the Noctunii as the Purple
Emperor {A. Iris) does among the Papilionidce.

This moth is one of the most, perhaps the most,
remarkable of its species in all the stages of its

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

231

existence, either for its beauty or else for its pecu-
liarity of construction.

The eggs are opaque, of a greenish-white colour,
and oval in form. Tlie outside shell or envelope is
perfectly smooth and free from any sculptured
forms, which are so prevalent in some of the ova of
the butterflies, as, for example, in those of the small
Cabbage White (P. Rcrpa) and tlie small Tortoise-
shell {F. Urtica). The eggs are laid by the female
moth in April and May, on the food-plants of the
larvse.

The caterpillar first appears at the end of June,
and may be found from July to September. The
segments are very plainly divided. In colour this
caterpillar is a delicate pea-green, each segment
having a broad band of black adorned with pink
tubercles, each of which emits a few short hairs. It
feeds upon apple, willow, and heath, and spins a
brown cocoon among its food-plant in September.

This cocoon may be found all through the winter
spun up among the twigs of its food-plant, or else
on the ground underneath, having been broken from
its support by rough weather. It is quite unique in
its construction. One end is formed of very stiff
hairs all converging to a point, and outside this is a
loose woolly envelope or cocoon ; so that while the
moth, when it emerges, can easily crawl out, no
other insect can get iu.

The pupa or chrysalis is squat-shaped, the seg-
ments of the abdomen much divided : the wings,
eyes, antenna;, and legs all very plainly marked iu
the outer shell.

The moth first emerges about the middle of April,
and may be found till the end of May. The males,
which fly very swiftly, are smaller than the females,
but much more brightly coloured : upper wings
marked with beautiful variety of blacks, browns,
and reddish-browns, with an eye-like spot in each
wing ; under wing a rich orange-colour, marked
with shades of brown and eye-spot in each wing,
which the surrounding colour shows up to great
advantage. The ground colour of the female is soft
pearly - grey, marked with shades of black and
brown, with eye-spot iu each wing. The life of
these moths, unfortunately, is very short, the
longest I have been able to keep one alive being
not more than two weeks. The females die almost
directly after depositing the eggs wliich are to form
the next generation. IClaude Ryan.

MICROSCOPY.

MiCKOscopic Marvels.— We have been favoured
with the sight of some remarkable specimens of
microscopic manipulation. Most of our readers are
acquainted with the slides of arranged diatoms
prepared by MoUer. These slides are, however,
not arranged diatoms, but butterfly-scales, arranged

in various designs. One of the most beautiful re-
presents two fronds of a fern, resembling a ceterach,
the pinnules composed of brilliant green scales :
the lower portion of the stem consists of brown
scales. Hovering near are two butterflies. The body
is represented by a long brown scale, the upper
wings by two blue, and the lower by a pale brown
scale. In another slide, the scales are arranged so
as to form a group of flowers. These microscopic
wonders are prepared by Mr. Dalton, jun., and we
believe may be obtained through his father, Mr. R.
Dalton, of Bury St. Edmunds.— P, K.

Wood Sections.— Those of our readers who are
in the habit of mounting sections of wood have,
no doubt, often been annoyed by their unsatisfac-
tory appearance when mounted in balsam or damar.
This is frequently the case, if the sections are (as
they ought to be) cut very thin. The indistinctness
when mounted in balsam may be avoided by dry
mounting, but then their opacity renders them
unavailable for use with high powers. The indistinct-
ness of balsam-mounted specimens may be over-
come by staining the sections, and for that purpose
Judson's dyes will be found very useful. We have
found the best effects are produced by magenta and
mauve. One drop of the dye to about ten of dis-
tilled water will be found to give sufficient intensity
of colour to the section. The section may be
allowed to remain in the dye for several hours, and
if the colour is too dark, it should be placed in
spirits of wine : this will alter the tint to any
degree of paleness. When the staining is complete,
the section should be well washed in distilled water,
and dried under pressure ; then soaked in turpen-
tine, and mounted in balsam or damar. — F. K.

BOTANY.

Resurrection Plant. — The botanical name of
this interesting plant is Selagiiiella lepidophijUa, and
as it is a club-moss, of course bears no flowers.
It is a native of California, Mexico, and Peru, and
with one or two allied lycopods, may occasionally
be seen in our gardens. In a recent number of the
Gardeners' Chronicle (August 10, 1S72), there is an
engraving of this singular plant, with dissections,
and a description from the pen of Mr. Thomas
Moore.— F'.G'.aS'.

LiTTORELLA LACusTRis.— Mr. Hind records this
plant (last observed growing iu Middlesex in 1S05)
as having been gathered in July in Ruislip reser-
voir. He thinks that many other plants supposed
to be extinct in the country are not really so, but
that either they have not been noticed, or are
awaiting the happy combination of circumstances
requisite to their appearance.

232

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE-GOS SIP.

Akabis sTRici'A. — Mr. Barriugton-Ward records
the'^abundant growth of this rare Bristol plant on
tlie Clifton side of the Avon, where it has been sup-
posed extinct. He has very wisely said nothing
about it until the fructification was over. It was in
Leigh Woods that the plant was found so plentiful.

Commerce in Pollen. — A curious trade has
recently sprung up, in a demand for pollen to
fructify certain plants. The Palm tribe, the Cyca.
dacea, and other greenhouse trees, will flourish
without producing stamens, and, for want of pol-
len, will not fruit. It is therefore now becoming
common to see advertisements for the pollen, for
example, of the Caryota urens, and other tropical
plants, and it is received through the post.

The Eloka of Liverpool. — We are glad to see
the really useful work which many of our leading
provincial societies are achieving, in tabulating the
fauna and flora of their respective neighbourhoods.
The Liverpool Naturalists' Field Club has for many
years taken a leading part in tiius working up local
subjects. The last issue of this work is a handsome
volume on the flora of the neighbourhood, giving a
list of the indigenous flowering plants and ferns
growing within fifteen miles of the Liverpool Ex-
change and two miles of Southport. The latter
town is brought in on account of its being a favourite
resort for Liverpool botanists. The arrangement
adopted in the orders, genera, and species is that
of Mr. Syme, in the third edition of Sowerby's
"English Botany" (London, Hardwicke). Among
the chief workers we find the names of Messrs.
T. B. Hall, Tudor, H. C. Watson, A. Stuart,
Armistead, Slack, Sliepherd, and Miss Potts.
Among the plants whose loss, consequent on the
extension of Liverpool, is mourned, are Vacc.inium
Vitis Idcea and Convallaria majalis.

Poisonous Fungi. — lu view of the recent fatal
accidents through eating poisonous fungi, the Field
recommends the coloured charts of edible and poi-
sonous species, published by Hardwicke, 192, Picca-
dilly, as the best precaution against the mistake so
often made by people unacquainted with the distinc-
tion between them. Besides the three boys who
died a few days ago at Catton, near Norwich, a
lamily of seven people are said to have since then
been poisoned in a similar manner at Mylar, near
Falmouth. These charts should be exhibited in
schoolrooms or other places of resort.

ZOOLOGY.

Coluber Austriacus {ante, p. 208).— The fol-
lowing extract from "The New Forest," by
J. B. Wise (p. 259, note), may interest Canon
Kingsley and others of your readers : — " I must not
forget to mention Coronella Icevis (Boie), which is

found in the Forest, as also in Dorsetshire and
Kent. This is the Coronella austriaca of Laurenti,
and afterwards the Coluber ItEvis of Lacipede. It
might be mistaken for the common viper {Pelias
verus), but differs in not being venomous, as also
from the ringed snake {Natrix torquata) in having
a fang at the hinder extremity of its jaws ; the
peculiarity of the genus Coronella. It feeds on
lizards, which its fang enables it to hold ; drinks a
great deal of water ; and Dr. Giinther, of the British
Museum, to whom 1 am indebted for the above
information, tells me that it crawls up the furze and
low bushes to lick the raiu off the leaves." I am
almost sure that a snake I saw, in September, 1S71,
in some dried-up boggy ground between Lyndhurst
and Christchurch, in the New Forest, was this
species. — Fred. I. Warner.

Books on the British Fau.va, and Notes on
Common Animals. — Systematic works on zoology
do not always answer our expectations, either from
their having been written rather by literary men
than by field-naturalists, or by authors, who, though
excellent zoologists, have been mostly domiciled in
London. Yarrell, for instance, is deficient in his
accounts of the notes of the feathered tribe, though
much might have been told by description, and in
some cases still more, as in the case of the Yellow
Bunting or the Willow Wren, by the usual musical
notes and signs. He says little of the charac-
teristic notes of the different species of the Thrush
tribe. There is also a good deal relating to our
British Mammalia not to be found in Mr. Bell's
otherwise interesting book. Two or three years back
we came across a strange variety of the common
Shrew. It was perfectly naked, excepting a few hairs
on the tail ; it appeared quite free from cutaneous or
other disease, but, like its kindred in general, was
intolerant of fasting ; for when it had remained
about eight hours in a botany-box I found it dead.
The common wild rabbit, when it burrows in fields
or gardens, and gives birth to young ones, takes
care in the daytime to stop up the mouth of the
burrow by scratching the soil or sand over it, to be
opened again at night for its entry. Bell, in his
description of the larger sheep — or drover's — dog,
does not notice that the iris of its eye shows the
same tendency as the dappled skin, having a de-
ficiency of pigment in places, so as to give it a wall-
eyed appearance. Again, squiirels have a wonderful
power of attracting their fellows from a distance,
perhaps explicable from their shrill voice and acute
hearing. Besides the food mentioned by Bell, they
eat the seeds of the fir and also fungi. 1 think the
Dormouse gnaws the kernels of the laurel-berries,
but seldom finishes one. There appear to be
varieties of several of our British quadrupeds,
suggestive of further examination — of the Badger,
Otter, and land and water Vole for instance, the last

HAI^DWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

233

case, lioM'ever, well remarked upon by Bell. The
dark variety (Water-vole) is found iu the upper
Dove. This little creature is not altogether aquatic
in its habits ; last week, for instance, in excavating
an ancient barrow on the summit of a hill, at the
least a mile from any brook or pool, we turned up,
as usual in such diggings, quantities of its bones ;
the peculiar molar teeth of this little beaver-like
animal being quite unmistakable. Vice versa, the
common Rat is often a frequenter of water, and to it
the heaps of shells seen on the margin of pools and
rivers are due. The Hedgehog, as well known, is
protected by its power of rolling itself up and pre-
senting its spines towards an enemy ; but Bell does
not advert (perhaps out of consideration for the
animal) to the common but heartless device of
placing it in water, when it must either drown or
unroll itself. Lastly, there is a deficiency in zoolo-
gical books in respect to habitat: to go no great
distance for examples, it will be found that Ireland,
the Isle of Man, and Cornwall, present many in-
teresting peculiarities with respect to zoological
distribution not generally noted. — R. G.

The Naples Aquarium.— On the narrow strip
of coast which separates the park of the Villa Reale
from the sea, a large stone building is at present
being erected at Naples, quietly and almost
unnoticed. The strength of the foundations — it has
taken three months to lay them— shows that they
are intended for an edifice of considerable size and
durability ; and on making inquiries I have learut
that this is the Zoological Station, which has been
occasionally mentioned by Italian, German, and
English journals during the last few months. It
has been organized and is being built by a young
German naturalist. Dr. Anton Dolirn, of Stettin, who
has paid nearly the whole of the expenses, which
amount to about 50,000 thalers (£7,500), out of his
own pocket, the only assistance he has received
having come from a few personal friends, who have
lent several thousand thalers for the purpose. The
following is a short sketch of his plan :— The ground
floor of the building, which covers an area of almost
8,000 square feet, contains a great aquarium, which
will be opened to the public. Dr. Dohrn hopes that
the money thus obtained will not only suffice for all
the expenses of the aquarium, but also afford a
surplus to be employed in covering a part of the
requirements of the upper story, which is to be
exclusiveiy devoted to scientific purposes. Besides
the officials and servants employed in the aquarium
several young zoologists will be attached to the
Station, and receive a regular salary from the
director. Dr. Dohrn. Thus, a number of new
positions will be opened up for young scientific men.
But this is not all. As the only duty of these
zoologists will be to devote themselves to certain
\)rauches of scientific work, and their exertions will

be carefully directed and organized, as has long
been the case in astronomical and meteorological
observatories, there is every reason to hope that
scientific 'research will be greatly facilitated and
advanced by their labours. In the upper story of
the Zoological Station laboratories will also be pre-
pared for the use of naturalists coming from other
parts of.Italy and from abroad. For this purpose a
large scientific library will be founded, Dr. Dohrn's
very considerable private collection serving as a
nucleus, and about twelve tables, fully furnished
with the necessary appurtenances, established.
Each of the latter will be provided with a number
of tanks supplied with a constant stream of sea-
water. Sea-fishing and dredging will be conducted
on an extensive scale by means of several boats, to
which, if the necessary means are forthcoming, a
small steam-yacht will be added. The animals
taken will be given to the zoologist for scientific
treatment. It is more than doubtful whether
all these rich and expensive conveniences can
be furnished to zoological visitors without any
pecuniary compensation'; but I hear that Dr.
Dohrn has drawn up a plan which will enable even
naturalists of limited means to enjoy the advantages
of the Station. He proposes to offer one or more
tables to various Governments and scientific socie-
ties for a fixed annual sum. These tables, and all
the scientific resources of the Station, will at once
be placed at the disposal of any naturalist
who brings a certificate from the Government,
university, or scientific body to which the table has
been let. This plan, among its many other advan-
tages, seems to be a successful attempt to solve the
difficult question as to how it is possible to unite a
complete self-administration on the part of scientific
bodies with the reception of pecuniary assistance
from their Governments. Dr. Dohrn speaks
in the most grateful manner of the assistance
rendered him by the German authorities in Italy,
especially by Mr. Stolte, the consul-general at
Naples, while at the same time he warmly acknow-
ledges the interest in his undertaking displayed by
the Government of Italy, more particularly Signor
Correnti and Signor Sella, the late and the present
Ministers of Public Instruction. The difficulties in
the way of the execution of his plan were neither
few nor small, as may be gathered from the fact
that, in spite of the readiness displayed by the
municipal authorities of Naples, more than two
years elapsed before a definitive contract could be
concluded between the towu and Dr. Dohrn
with'respcct to the cession of a suitable site for the
building. — E. R. L.

The Bkitisii Association Meeting at
Bkighton.— As was expected, the Association
meeting this year was quite a success, not only in
point of numbers, but especially in that freedom of

234

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE-GO S S 1 P.

intercourse wljich such meetiugs briug about, and
which is even more valuable to tlie cause of science
than elaborate addresses. But there were not lack-
ing the latter, and Dr. Carpenter's as well as
Professor Clifford's discourses on the nature and
aim of scientific research cannot fail to produce a
more humble spirit of inquiry, and less of rash
speculation. The success of this year's gathering
was mainly due to the efforts of the local scientific
men: the Brighton Natural History Society came to
the front better than we have seen any local society
for many years. At each of the two conversazioni
about seventy microscopes were worked by the
members, every variety of object being exhibited.
A new feature was the collection of living Sussex
flowering-plants, which were arranged in troughs of
wet sand, and neatly labelled. A first-rate herbarium
occupied one entire room, and here were Mr. Mitten's
splendid collection of mosses, and one of lichens no
less valuable. Where all worked so well, it would
seem invidious to mention particular gentlemen ;
but we should lack a sense of duty if we did not
compliment Dr. Griffiths, Mr. Woufor, Mr. G.
Scott, Mr. C. Smith, and Mr. Howell on their
successful endeavours to aid all inquirers. The tem-
porary Museum was another important feature, as
our readers will understand when we mention that
Mr. Davidson's series of cretaceous Brachiopoda
was here exhibited, as well as Mr. Willett's mag-
nificent collection of Sussex Chalk fossils. As to
the excursions, the remembrance of them will last
for many a day, of hammering out Jguanodow s teeth
at Cuckfield, or exploring the Cyrena beds at the
Wealden Boring at Netherton. To speak of the
papers that were read is here needless, as the limits
of space even would forbid us turning our columns
into a catalogue.

Preserving Lakva. — Having tried various ways
of preserving lepidopterous larvaj, such as blowing
them up with air and heating them in a glass tube
or metal chamber, or filling them with sand and
drying them, — these methods having failed, I tried
another plan, which does admirably ; the only
things requii'cd being a small glass syringe (which
may be purchased at any glassblower's for a penny
or twopence— it must be very narrow at the point)
and Young's parafiin or white wax. I disembowel
the caterpillar by piercing it in the anus and squeez-
ing out the contents, drying it afterwards with rolls
of blotting-paper ; then 1 boil a little of Young's
paraffin or wax, and a small potful of water. When
I have the water, caterpillar, and wax ready, I draw
into the syringe some boiling water (the object of
this is to heat the glass so as not to let the paraffin
get hard before being injected out) ; I then inject
out the water, and draw up the wax or paraffm,
dipping the point of the syringe into the boiling
water. It is best to keep the water in the same

vessel as it was boiled in, as it keeps warm longer.
I then put the point of the syringe into the anus of
the caterpillar and inject the wax into it. All these
things must be done very quickly. If, afterwards,
it is seen that any of the parts are not fully de-
veloped, all that is required is to pass a thread
through the underside of the anal segment, dip it
into boiling water for a few minutes, which causes the
wax to melt, filling the different parts. The larvae
can afterwards be mounted to suit the owner, either
on w'ires or slips of Bristol board. — James J. King.

Mimicry in Insects. — An instance of what
might be termed mimicry, may be noticed in the
common garden Carpet-moth {Melantppe fltiduata) .
It -usually seeks refuge, iu the daytime, in some
obscure place, and there rests with its upper wings
somewhat outspread, but not, as it is commonly
placed, with its under wings exposed, iu the ento-
mological drawer. In its natural position, and
resting on a brownish or obscure surface, it would
not, from the markings on its wings, be taken for
what it is, but for a smaller whitish moth, and
reversed iu position. If we attempt to catch it,
the moth darts in the opposite direction to what we
expect, and we are probably foiled. We do not
affirm that this is anything more than an accidental
disposition of the colours, nor are we certain that
it is iu any degree favourable to the preservation of
the insects. — R. G.

New British Burnets. — Though we have an-
nounced, year by year, the addition of various
moths to our list, it is very seldom that we acquire
a new species belonging to the Hawk-moth tribe —
the Spldngina of Linnseus and the older authors.
Last year, however, on the side of a hdl at Braemar,
at an elevation of 2,500 feet, a number of specimens
were taken of Zygtena exulans ; the Scotch ex-
amples of this continental species presenting some
local peculiarities. And this summer, in that choice
spot for insect-hunting, the New Forest, several
collectors have caught examples of Z. meliloti, but
slightly damaged, as they were too late for the
species. Both seem to be limited in their range ; the
latter, though smaller, much resembles i(n/o/« y the
new Scotch Burnet is decidedly unlike the long-
known British species.— J. R. S. C.

The Camberwell Beauty {Vanessa Antiopd). —
We have been overwhelmed with notices of the
abundant appearance of this beautiful object, in
various parts of the country. The question for en-
tomologists to consider is whether they have been
British bred and born, or continental specimens on
a visit. The peculiar cream tinge of the border
would seem to indicate the latter.

Mimicry in the Snake. — Professor Cope makes
the following remarks : — " I had for some time a
specimen of Cydophis icstivus living in a Wardian

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

235

case. The slender form of lliis snake, and its
beautiful green and yellow colours, have led to the
opinion that it is of arboreal or bush-loving habits.
It never exhibited such in confinement, however,
and instead of climbing over the caladia, ferns, &c.,
it lived mostly under-ground. It had a curious
habit of projecting its head and two inches of its
body above the ground, and holding them rigidly in
a fixed attitude. In this position it resembled very
closely a sprout or shoot of some green succulent
plant, and might readily be mistaken for such by
small animals."

^A New Zoophyte.— Dr. J. E. Gray has described
a new genus of Escharidae from Natal, under the
name [of FlustramorpJia. _It includes two species,
marginata and jlahellaris.

New Eishes.— Dr. Giinther has also described
two new fishes from Tasmania. One genus is new,
and allied to the Percoids, called Lanioperca mordax.
It goes by the name of " Pike " and " Jack " among
the colonists. The other species is Chilodactylus
Allporti, named after Mr. Morton Allport, in whose
collection both were found.

GEOLOGY.

The Dowaud Caves.— The Cotteswold Natu-
ralists' Eielu Club had an interesting excursion
to these caves on the 19th of August. Their bone
breccia has been carefully worked by the llev. W. S.
Symonds, E.G.S., who was with the party, and he,
as well as Dr. Wright, the Vice-President, gave a
most interesting description of their contents. In
one cave, called " Baunerman's Cave," remains of
the Cave Lion, Hhinoceros, Mammoth, Irish Elk,
E.eindeer, and Horse were disentombed. In " King
Arthur's Cave " were the bones of the long-faced
Cow {Bos longifrom), as well as those of the
Marmot, Beaver, Badger, Wolf, Otter, &c. A layer
of stalagmite was found beneath these deposits, and
lower still was another bed, in which remains of the
Cave Lion, Cave Bear, Cave Ilyseua, Rhinoceros,
Elephant, Reindeer, Irish Elk, &c., were met with.
In the same stratum flint flakes were also found,
although no remains of man. The latter cave is
285 feet, and the former 350 feet, above the river
Wye.

Gigantic Elying Lizards. — The extensive col-
ection of fossil remains recently made during an
expedition to the western parts of the United States
are now yielding, in the hands of Professor Marsh,
very interesting results. Eive specimens of the new
species, among the largest known, of PterodacUjlus
occidentals, were found. This belonged to the
short-tailed group, and its spread of wing must
have been from eighteen to twenty feet, whilst its

large teeth clearly indicate its carnivorous habits.
Another species, P. ingens, exceeded this in size,
having an expanse of wing of at least twenty-two
feet. These are the first remains of flying reptiles
found in America.

Cretaceous Birds.— Professor Marsh has re-
cently published a very elaborate memoir on the
large fossil bird named llesperornis regalis, which
was a large swimming bird, having its nearest allies
in the Colymhidce, but differing in many respects
from them, and indeed from all known birds. Three
other species of fossil birds, allied to the Cormo-
rants, and named Graculavus, have also been dis-
covered in tlie cretaceous Green-sand of New
Jersey, United States. Tlie species are relatively
velox, pumiliis, and anceps. The same beds have
yielded the remains of a new cretaceous wading
bird, called Paleeotringa vagans.

New Cretaceous Reptiles.— The same geolo-
gist has also discovered, among the rich collection
in the Yale Museum, several new reptilian forms, of
Cretaceous age, belonging to the Mososaurus group.
Two new genera have been established, and named
Lestosaurus and RJiinosaurus, under the former of
which no fewer than four new species have been in-
cluded. Professor Marsh shows that the necks of
all the reptiles of the Mososaurus family were very
short.

Model op the Wealden. — During the meeting
of the British Association, considerable interest
was manifested in the Geological section by a geo-
logical model of the south-east of England and
part of Erauce, including the whole of the Wealden
area. It was constructed by Mr. James B. Jordan,
of the Mining Record ofiice, from data supplied by
Mr. W. Topley, E.G.S., of the Geological Survey.
The model is one of the most beautiful we have
ever seen, and we are glad to find it is about to be
published, the constructor allowing a considerable
discount to members of the British Association.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Swallows and Martiks in 1873 (p. 189).—
I fancy that "E. M. P." is partly right in his
conjecture. Swallows are decidedly scarce, if not
altogether lacking, in many localities near London,
On the theory still advocated by some as to their
liybernation under water, it might be supposed
that during the wet winter of 1871-72, the birds
got too much water through the floods which were
out in various districts, and were so completely
submerged that they could not extricate themselves.
I have not, however, noticed that martins were
below the average in point of numbers ; indeed, in
Kent, about Gravesend, they were very conspicuous
on the wing in IMay and June. On one occasion,
a luckless individual entered a Gravesend church
just before service, and, in spite of all efforts to
bring him down by means of umbrellas, coats, &c.

236

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

continuedto n'rate Litlier and thither until the
congregation dispersed, in some of his evolutions
approaching very near to the minister ofBciating. —

/. R. s. a

Chaffinch's Nest.— One evening in July last I
took a chaffinch's nest with five eggs : it was built
in a holly-tree about six feet from the ground. Its
singular appearance first attracted my attention, as
it afterwards proved, by its containing a nest of the
common humble bee. Is this not rather an unusual
occurrence, as that insect generally builds in banks,
&c. ?—TAomas C. Ol/om.

Bee Okchis. — I found a single plant of this rare
orchid last season, growing close to the steep path-
way which leads down to the great quarry at
Babbacombe, and although I sousht diligently all
round that district for some weeks afterwards, I
saw no more of it. My much-prized little waif had
but a solitary bloom on the tip of its spike, and
was, indeed, but a stunted plant, although the
flower itself was of the ordinary size and very bril-
liant in colour. This season, however, I have been
very fortunate in finding this lovely species in
tolerable abundance and of considerable size, some
of the spikes being over eisht inches in height, and
bearing a series of exquisite blooms, from five to
eight in number. They were growing in society
with very fine specimens of the common crimson
and pink orchis, on the downs between Churstou
andBrixham, perilously near the ordinary pathway;
but as these downs are, I believe, very little fre-
quented, I am in hopes that this rare orchid will
escape detection by the numerous ruthless collectors
of rare plants that infest this and many other parts
of Devonshire, much to the annoyance of all true
lovers of botany.— /F". II. Grattann, Torquay.

Cky of Woodpigeon.— With regard to G. O.
Howell's communication respecting the Wood-
pigeon's cry, I may say that I heard the story he
relates more than ten years ago, told by a farmer
in Essex, with some very small differences of detail.
I at once set it down as belonging to the vast
genera of tales that may go for as much as they are
worth, for it is very unlikely that any one living in
such a place as Wales, or indeed in any place at
all, should be ignorant of the cooing of the Wood-
pigeon. — /. //. Jennings.

Origin of the Game Cock.— "J. W. B." was
niisinformed when he Avas told that the Game Cock
is a hybrid " between the cock pheasant and the
farm-yard hen." The exact origin of the Game
fowl, like that of most of our other domestic
animals, is hidden in the obscurity of the past.
However, most of the naturalists who have studied
the subject think that the Game fowl, like all our
other domestic varieties of poultry, is descended
from the common jungle-fowl {Gailus fermgineus).
"J. W. B." is also mistaken when he states that
they arc "now happily scarce." A visit to any of
our large poultry-shows will convince him that tlicy
are as numerous as ever; and indeed it would be a
great pity if the breed were neglected, as, although
rather small, they are the best of all fowl for the
table; the hens are good layers and excellent
motliers ; while for brilliancy 'and beauty of plu-
mage, they are unsurpassed by any other variety. —
n\ M. A. jr., Balkey.

Dead Plies. — Walking one evening in Burghley
Park, with an eye to the collection 'of specimens
for the microscope, my attention was attracted to a

clump of grass under the shade of some spreading
lime-trees. On many of the stems of grass were
insects like the one I inclose (my entomological
knowledge is insufficient to enable me to give
its scientific name) : their legs were so firmly
entwined round the grass, that it was next to
innpossible to remove them without pulling them to
pieces. To my surprise 1 found that all the insects
were dead ; and on closer examination with a lens,
they appeared to have been affected by the fly-
disease — Empusa mztscte. Many of the stems of
grass had two insects upon each ; and it was
curious to see so large a number affected iu the
manner described.—/. Ford, Stamford.

The Influence of a Damp Winter on Insect
Life (d. 139). — I w-ould remark, in reply to
"C. G. B.," that I never intended to dissociate
the influences of moisture and a high temperature
in winter ; the two are almost invariably connected,
and it is to the operation of both causes that I attri-
bute the scarcity of insects generally in a season
like the present ; indeed, his remarks on the im-
petus given to the operations of birds and preda-
cious insects by a mild winter tend to support my
views. In speaking of hyhernating larvae (of the
Lepidoptera), " C. G . B." scarcely distinguishes
sufficiently between those whose habit it is to
remain without food during the winter, and those
which eat a little at intervals, feeding as they do
upon plants which are more or less in leaf during
the winter. The result of a mild winter in the
latter case is, that though some fall a prey to various
enemies, the rest of the brood are only stimulated
to a more rapid growth, and therefore feed up and
become mature earlier than usual in the spring.
The larvfc, which should naturally be torpid, suffer
most by the mildness, because, as I stated, they
will, some of them, be roused to activity when
there is little or no food for them. Many of these
repose during the winter on or near the ground,
and are killed by excessive moisture, but unhurt by
frost. In a late number of the Entomologist there
appears a note from a well-known correspondent on
this very subject, and I am glad to be able to quote
Mr. Reeks's opinion that a bad summer for insects
is sure to follow a winter such as that of 1871-72.
He states : "I have for many years noted that mild,
wet winters prove far more destructive to insect",
life than dry ones with any amount of severe frosts;"
and the sudden alternations which we have had this
summer have helped to increase the scarcity of but-
terflies and moths. A favourable day would bring
forth a great portion of a brood from the pupa ; but
ere the work of oviposition was completed, a change
would come, and winds or rains sweep many of the
insects away, leaving few to continue the species. —
/. B. S. C.

Erratum.— In the note on ^lontagu's Harrier iu
August number, read 1870 for 1872.

The Leopard Moth.— In his "British Moths,"
Newman states that the wood-boring larva of this
insect never destroys the trees in which it makes
its habitation, but rather improves them. Of course
it behoves one to be very careful before questioning
the accuracy of so decided an assertion made by so
eminent an entomologist ; but not far from this place
there is a row of elms, several of which have been
entirely destroyed by Z. (Csctdi. The trees were
carefully and constantly examined by myself and
other collectors during this year's season, and many
Leopard moths were taken, "but no traces of beetles

HARDWICKE'S S C IE N CE- GO S S IP.

237

or oilier insects were observed. Some idea of tlie
ravnges committed by tliese moths may be gained
wlieu I say that on two elms standing close to-
gether, I observed, at one time, upwards of twenty
specimens of the perfect insect. — E. C. Lefroij,
Blackheatk.

The Colours of Lepidopteea.^ read with
much interest the article on this subject by Mr. J.
Anderson (p. 175), and I was especially struck by
his remark on the metallic lustre which some butter-
flies have on their wings. He says, that no doubt
this is owing to scales of different shades being
placed transversely, like the threads in shot silks.
I should be very much obliged if he, or any other
correspondent, would say if this is correct, and if
not, what is the true cause of this brilliant appear-
.ance ?— 2?. C. Lefroy.

How TO Clear a Pond. — I shall be much obliged
if any one can tell me how to get a small pond clear.
It is nowhere more than eighteen inches deep, the
water is not at all muddy, and the fish are quite
healthy. The thickness is solely owing to micro-
scopic vegetation. Can any one tell me how to get
rid of it ^—H. B. Rutt.

Fecundity or the Hydra vulgaris. — The two
Hydras referred to in the end of my remarks on
them, in last June's number of Science-Gossip,
p. 135, as having been cut into several pieces, and
restored to perfect animals, when cut (on March
29th), I placed in a wine-glass of clean water, that
I might be able to watch, and observe the progress
they made from time to time, at the same time
keeping them supplied with water-fleas {Baphnea
Pulex), which are to be found very plentiful in
many ponds. The Hydra takes them very readily;
it is amusing to see them seize the Daphnea with
their tentacula and absorb them, sometimes three
or four at a time. The carapace or shell of the
Daphnea, which the Hydra rejects, together with
the dead bodies of those that die through coming
in contact with the stinging power of the Hydra,
sink to the bottom of the glass. To keep them
clean, they can easily be removed with a dipping-
tube, taking care not to take up any of the Hydras
with them. Having seen how very fast they had
increased by budding, after the operation of cutting,
on April 29th 1 removed them into a larger glass;
taking them out singly, and counting them, I found
they had, during one month, from March 29th to
April 29th, increased to the number of eighty-nine,
and most of them still had young ones growing on
them, some having one, others two ; so that, in all
probability, another week would have doubled the
number. In Johnston's " History of British
Zoophytes," p. 136, he remarks it "as most extra-
ordinary that polyps produced by this process grow
much larger, and are more prolific in the way of
their natural increase, than those that were never
cut." This I have proved. It has been said by
some that the Hydra can be produced perfect from
a single tentacle severed from the body; thisi have
never been able to witness, though I have tried the
experiment.—/. Fullagar, Canterhunj.

Section-cutting. — Mr. Walter White's arrange-
ment of a section-cutting instrument with wedges
is very ingenious, but I think a good screw would
be found to answer a great deal better, besides being
neater^ and taking up so much less space. Perhaps
many of your readers may not be aware that nuts
and screws, beautifully cut, of various lengths and

sizes, which are readily adapted for the purpose,
can be bought very cheaply at most of the London
tool-shops.— a T. N.

Queen op Spain Feitillary. — Ifc may interest
some of your subscribers to know that a Queen of
Spain Fritillary {Lathonid) was caught on the 14th
ult., in the Warren, near Folkestone, by H. G.
Greenish.

K.URAL Natural History (p. 215, 1872).—
Your correspondent says that in his locality some
of the same superstitious remedies for whooping-
cough are in use as in Cheshire ; but he has not
said where that locality is. I am collecting the
folk-lore of Natural History, and should be glad to
know where the remedies are in vogue that your
correspondent describes ; and shall also be grateful
for any further information on the subject from him
or any other correspondent. — Robert Holland.

Keeping Caterpillars. — I have tried the plan
of keeping caterpillars mentioned by "E. T. S.," in
the August number, and I find it answers very
nicely, only I cover the top of the pot with
muslin tied round with string ; but I am in need of
help how to keep chrysalids, as some, and the
Privet especially, bury themselves in the mould.
Can any of your correspondents give me advice as
to how I am to manage when they are ready to
turn into the chrysalis state, and which is the best
way of keeping them through the winter ? — Mabel
Green,

Swallows' Nests.— A nest built this summer
by a pair of swallows under the eaves of a cottage,
at The Maidens, Ayrshire, proved too small for the
family when the eggs were hatched. This the old
birds at once proceeded to remedy, by " building
an addition " at one side of the nest, and opening
a communication between it and the original nest ;
thus making what is called in Scotland. " a butt
and a ben." — R. G.

The Heracleum giganteum is a native of a
much colder climate than ours. It grows wild, I
am told, in Siberia, and "J. H. G." will find, if he
turns to any botanical work of repute, that it
belongs to the genus Heracleum : our Cow Parsnip
is another Heracleum. This genus are all um-
bellifers, and " J. H. G." is perfectly correct. The
generic name is derived from that hero of the
Greek legends, Hercules. The roots and stems of
some of the species are eaten in various parts of
the world. The native tribes of North America
and the inhabitants of the Caucasus devour them
as readily as our pigs do the Cow Parsnip {Hera-
cleum sphondyliuiii). — H. E. W.

Pet Starlings, &c. — In answer to " G. T. J."
in last month's number of Science-Gossip, I beg
to inform him that by using a hollow perch made by
pushing out the pith of a small elder-stick, and
cutting into the tube, so to make a number of notches
or holes, the parasites will be found in this hollow
perch, by taking it out of the cage and tapping it,
whilst holding it upright, into a glass of water.—
R. Allison.

Where are the Swallows ?— With the excep-
tion of a few sultry days we have had little weather
such as the swallows delight in, which probably
accounts for their scarcity. There are not more than
half as many swallows, &c., in Devon as there was
last year, and they came very IdXt— Arthur Smyth.

23S

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

Death's-head HA^VK-MOT'EiAchrontiaAtropos).
— Yesterday (September 1st), whilst in the country, |
I met with a fine caterpillar of the Death's-head -1
moth (A. Afropos), which was full-fed. It changed
to a chryssLlh—aljove the ground— \\i\% morning. I
shall feel grateful to any experienced reader of
Science-Gossip for a few hints relative to the
treatment of the pupa of this insect. — Robert
Laddiman.

Green Field Ckicket [Gryllus viridlssimus).—
I had, the other week, a fine specimen of this
cricket brought to me, which is now alive and iu
good condition. I give it small flies, cateriullars,
&c., and a piece of; bread occasionallj', which it
readily devours. It is getting perfectly tame, and
•will take its food from my hand without exhibiting
the least fear. Not having a place of reception in
readiness for it when brought me, I placed it, pro
iem., in my breeding-cage with the other insects,
larvff, &c. ; but I was obliged to remove it, or it
■would have made sad havoc amongst them, which
would, I doubt not, have ended in the annihilation
of tlie greater part of my larvse. The first thing
it did on entering was to seize a caterpillar of
V. nrtica (hanging by its tail, preparatory to
changing to the pupa state), which was soon com-
pletely devoured. Not approving of this sort of
conduct, I at once put him into a box by himself,
but I have heard very little singing from him ; I
hope to be able to keep him throughout the winter.
It is very interesting to watch the manoeuvres of
this insect. — Robert Laddiman.

Mice entering Cages.— T, like "J. R. S.C." and
one or two other correspondents to your valuable
periodical, have been annoyed by mice entering the
cage, in this instance of a canary, which was sus-
pended by a chain about two feet in length from
the centre of the window cornice, so that the mouse
had to descend by it into the cage, and after eating
some bread and seed, it had to ascend iu the same
way. I found that there was a mouse-hole just
above the cornice, so I set a trap close to the hole
in order to catch the mice. I had it there for some
time ; but though it did not succeed in doing so, I
am glad to say I have not been annoyed by them
since. I suppose the trap frightened them. 1 fancy
the mice usually came in tiie night, although one
was once seen during the daytime ; but the lady who
saw it was too frightened to notice its mode of
escape. Mice were never seen in any other part of
the house. — /. T.

Eggshell'of the Large Garden Snail {Helix
aspersa). — The eggshell of this snail, when properly
prepared, is a highly beautiful microscopic object,
viewed with a high power ; it is, however, some-
what difiicult to accomplish. A few years ago a
gentleman of high standing in microscopy excited
my curiosity by telling me the shell was composed
of two membranes, between which innumerable
crystals were inclosed that in process of time ad-
hered to each other, and thus constituted the solid
shell of the snail. Erom that time until about a
fortnight ago i have availed myself of every op-
portunity to witness this curious process, but with-
out success ; and a circumstance I witnessed, at the
time I have named, demonstrated that mortal eye
had never seen it, and never will. The circumstance
I refer to was seeing a young snail emerge from the
egg, within which he had built his house, shrouded,
meauwliile, from sight by the jewelled robe in which
he had been rearing the structure, and which he

contemptuously threw aside for the use af ony one
who might value his old clothes. As the young
snail (about the size of a large pin's head) crawled,
the pulsations of his heart could be seen beating
time at the rate of seventy-six beats in a minute.
My friend was iu error also in regard to " two "
membranes •, there are several in one case. _ I
succeeded in separating seven layers. The in-
ner one is always as transparent as glass ; every one
of the others is strewed, more or less closely, with
beautiful crystals of carbonate of lime, and it is
when thus divided the crystals show to most ad-
vantage; and although all are cubical in structure,
they present a variety of forms, according to the
angle presented to the eye by the individual crystal.
I may add that I have found the separation of the
layers easiest when the e^g was newly deposited.
The crystals were too numerous for counting ; but
I estimate them at about 150,000 in each egg.—
A. Nicholson.

Dock v. Nettle. — There is a wide-spread belief
among country children that the smart caused by
the sting of a nettle may be removed by beating
the injured part with a dock-leaf, the juice which
exudes from the bruised leaf being apparently the
soothing medium. Can any of your readers inform
me whether the relief afforded is real? I am rather
inclined to think it is, for I have often felt the sting
of a nettled hand for a day or two under ordinary
circumstances, especially when washing it ; but
rubbing the stung part with a bruised dock-leaf has
stopped the smarting in a few minutes. The chil-
dren when beating the stings, to complete_ what
they regard as a sort of charm, keep singing
" Nettle go out, and dock go in ! "—G. H. H.

Bees.— I, like Mr. Graham, lost several of my
bees, and let the boxes (three in number) remain.
During the month of June I filled two of the boxes
with bees — the other still remained half filled with
empty comb. On July the 22nd a labourer living
more than half a mile from me had a stock swarm,
and put them in a hive. The following day they
left the hive, and were seen flying straight towards
my aviary, where they went into my box, and are
doing well. Strange they should go so far, as they
passed an aviary before coming to mine. It would
appear the bees send scouts to find a new home
before leaving the qld one. — Arthur Bmyth.

Clothes Moths. — The following may, iu some
degree, be of advantage to those wliose wardrobes,
&c., are infested with those troublesome insects,
" moths." Take nicely matured horse-chestnuts, in
proportion to the dimensions of the place infested,
and scatter them on the bottom of the drawer or
amongst the articles to be preserved. This will be
found effectual, and is not recommended from mere
hearsay, but from many years' experience. The
"chestnuts" must be changed wlien they become
dry, wliich will be in six or nine months, according
to the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere.
The foregoing is simple, free from danger, is not so
disagreeable as turpentine, or so dangerous as ben-
zole.—P. S. Warrington.

Hedgehogs and Chickens.— I recently had a
brood of eleven chickens of spangled Hamburgs,
and they did well for a fortnight ; but, a few days
ago, five of them were found dead, with only their
heads bruised and eaten. We supposed the de-
struction was caused by a cat, until, three or four
evenings since, my terriers kept up such a barking

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

239

that I went with a lantern to see the cause, and
found a hedgehog. To reh-ase tJie poor beast I took
the dogs away, and put the hedgehog over the fence
into a meadow, where, I suppose, it came from, and
got tlirough the fence into my garden, where the
hen was sitting, and as we had afterwards taken
her indoors every night, yet it was found by the
dogs within three yards of where the mischief
was done. Can any of your readers inform me if
this same aniiual was lilcely to have been the trans-
gressor ? Tt is curious, about three years ago I
brought a hedgehog and set it loose in the garden,
thinking lie would destroy the slugs, &c., and we
never saw him after. — W. H. JSPLachlan.

Swallows.— In reply to the inquiry of "E.M.P.,"
regarding the departure of swallows, it must be
borne in mind that the representatives of this tribe
are very "sensitive," if I may use the word; per-
haps more so than any others. Should they, per-
chance, have suffered any injury from tlie collecting
ornithologist, or had their nests robbed of the eggs
by the egg-fancier, they will not only desert the spot
itself, but their favourite haunts for miles around
will become desolate. On the borders of Lanca-
shire and Cheshire they are very numerous ; in fact,
they are more numerous this year than I have ever
known them to be before. This may, indeed,
account, to a certain degree, for their scarcity in
the south-eastern part of the country. — P. S. War-
rington.

"Where abe the Swallows?" — The query
put by " E. M. P." had occurred to myself before
reading his remarks in SciENCE-Gossipfor August.
This year I have seen very few swallows and
martins (and I may add, in passing, butterflies and
moths) during the usual months in which they
appear. One friend has not noticed any difference
in his own neighbourhood, not far from this (North
Stalf or d shire). But others, with myself, have
fancied that these annual visitants have been fewer
than usual this year. Have other observers noticed
this ? "A. H.," in this month's number (September),
observes that they have been seen in considerable
numbers south of the Thames, and in localities
where they have not before been noticed. Is this
an isolated case ? If not, will it answer and explain
our inquiry ? — J. S. B.

Do MANY Swallows perish in their ]\Iigra-
TiONs ?— This inquiry is suggested by a remark in
one of Professor Kingsley's sermons, to the follow-
ing effect: — Thousands. died in their passage south.
Thousands more died in their passage back again
this spring, by hunger and by storm." Is it an
ascertained fact that so many birds of passage
perish in their migrations ?— /. S. B.

Coluber Atjstriacus. — Will some reader kindly
tell me what the Coluber Austriacus, mentioned in
the last two numbers of Science Gossip, is ? I
have Bell's British Reptiles, and find no account of
it, unless it be the snake mentioned as having been
taken near Dumfries, by Mr. J. W. Simmons, sup-
posed to be unique, and here called Coluber Bum-
frisiensis. — W. G.

Preserving Eungi.— In the August number of
Science-Gossip, _" S. T. T." gives a receipt for pre-
serving fungi, in which a mixture containing
sulphuric acid is to be filtered through chalk or
lime. I hope no one has tried the experiment, as
the boiling over and mess would be very annoying
if chalk were selected. If lime be used, the sul-

phuric acid would 'simply be removed from the mix-
ture by converting the lime into a sulphate (gypsum).
— Jr. G.

The Camberwell Beauty.— It may possibly be
worth putting on record that on Monday last, Sept.
2nd, my sons captured a specimen of the Camberwell
Beauty {Vanessa Antiopa), while fishing in the park
of my friend. Lady Shelley, at Maresfield, in Sussex.
I know that this species has been chronicled as a
visitor at Lewes and Worthing, in this county ; but,
as far as 1 can gather, from the works to which I
have access, this is its first appearance upon our
weald clay.— /T. N., Forest Lodge, Maresfield.

The Smooth Snake {Coluber Austriacus).— lllw
first example of this snake is said to have been taken
near Dumfries, and hence named Coluber Dumfri-
siensis. Several more instances are on record, and
now it seems to have again turned up. In the
Zoologist for June, it is said to have been taken on
a heath near Bournemouth (which would seem to be
its favourite locality), and again, in the same maga-
zine for July, a gentleman mentions having taken it
on Bouriiemouth heath last summer. He also says
that a friend showed him two small ones in a bottle,
both taken near the same locality. It is to be hoped
that the search made for it will not exterminate the
species.— /r.7.P.7r.

Bees' and Wasps' Nests.— There are two in-
teresting facts, having reference to the above, which
have come under my observation, and I should like
to lay them before the readers of your valuable
journal. Several years ago I habitually destroyed
all the nests of humble bees and wasps that I dis-
covered, and have on several occasions observed
some interesting details in regard to these insects.
I once found the nest of a garden bee {Bombus
muscorum), and it was, as usual, constituted of de-
cayed grass, and presented, in every respect, the
same appearance as that of the nest of the field
mouse. It was situated in the long grass of a bank
adjoining a field, and soon after its discovery I
turned the grass aside with a walking-stick and
revealed the nest. I then removed a portion of the
dried grass which inclosed the condj, and discovered
that two slow-worms {Aiiguis fragilis) were com-
fortably resting there. On being disturbed, they
immediately retreated into the hedge, and I saw no
more of them. There was some honey in the comb,
and I was astonished that the bees, being numerous,
had not caused the removal of the slov,'-worms
previously to my having done so. On another
occasion I discovered a nest of the common humble
bee {Bombus terrestrii) in the same hole as that of
a wasp's {Fespa vulgaris). The season was about
the middle of summer, and the nests were situated
in the midst of a bush adjacent to a stream. The
wasps, in reaching their own habitation, had to
actually pass over the nest of the humble bees.
The comb of the wasps was situated a few inches
deeper in the ground than that of the bees, and it
was a very small nest indeed, there being not more
than about twelve wasps, and the amount of comb
was very insignificant. The bees' nest was a strong
one in point of numbers ; but whether the fact of
the wasps' nest being so small was owing to the
destroying propensities of the bees or to the eariiuess
of the season, could not be satisfactorily determined.
Probably, however, it was the latter; at any rate,
there were no dead wasps found in the nest subse-
quent to the removal of the earth. — William F.
Denning. 5

240

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE-GO SSIP.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

J. Reeve.— The variety of Daisy sent is that known as
proliferous. It is figured in Science-Gossip for J 865,
page 182.

E. Ward. — We are most willing' to oblige you in your
difficulty, but nothing was said about namine; the insects.

T. W.— We are sorry we cannot comply with your request,
as we are obliged to adhere to our rule of not answering
anonymous queries or communications.

W. L. W. E.— Your box and note arrived, but the Lycosa
was non est inventus.

T. R.— Your specimen is an immature variety of the
Bladder- fern (Cyslopteris frugilis).

J. W. G.— Mr. Highley's paper is not to be obtained. See
" Half-Hours by the Seaside." London : Hardwicke.

W. S., JuN.— The supposed fungus is a common lichen
called Cladonia.

W. R.— Your query appeared in the August number of
Science-Gossip, but has not been answered. Bird-stuffers
keep the mode of cleaning feathers a professional secret.

A. E. Murray. — No duck-weeds were enclosed in your
communication. Please send your proposed sketch to us.

E. T. S.— Your Hawthorn bushes have been the usual
White Hawthorn, with grafts of the pink variety. The
natural shoots ought to have been cut away as they started,
but they have been allowed to grow, and the foreign grafts
are either smothered or starved. Graft again, and watch
better.— J. C.

I. W.— Mosses: 1. Bryum capillare ; 2. Grimmia apocarpa ;
3. Orthotrichum saxiitile. — R. B.

C. P.— The "nest" is composed of the cocoons of a colony
of small Ichneumons, probably of the genus Microgaster.
The larvse, after feeding within the body of some unfortunate
moth larva, and destroying it, spun up side by side upon the
blade of grass, and produced the small flies.

A. Smyth.— The specimen is not a grass, but a rush, called
Wood-rush {Luxiila cumpestris).

H. CoRRiE.— A rush Uuncits glaticus).

A. A.— The plant is Alisma nutans.

F. W.— Please send other specimens.

S. A. B.— I. The specimen sent is the Bird's-nest Moss
(Nidularia). 2. It is not our rule to return specimens
unless they are valuable, or some special scientific interest is
attached to them.

Dr. J. P. H. B.— (A bundle of mistakes in last month's
answer.) -For Barth. read Benth.; Grisebach for Griesbach;
and Vernnnia for Veronica.

M. D. Beresford.— Owing to the balsam used for mount-
ing being soft, the pressure of the slides on each other in
transit squeezed it out between the cover and the slides, and
carried the diatoms along with it. Hence we can only name
one. That with the ink memorandum on it contains Bac-
teriastrum variuns of Lauder, B. anivalvum and B. furcatum
of Thadbolt.

Chas. J. BRAnBURY.— The parasite on tortoise has lost its
head, and so prevents its specific recognition. It is an
Ixodes— XhsX is all we can make out, on account of its being
without its ordinary accompaniment.

J- H .—Yon had better apply to Professor Wyville-Thomson,
Edinburgh, who is to have scientific charge of the expe-
dition.

J. E.G.— Mosses : I. Hypnum striatum ; 2. H.molluscum;
3. H. cupressifurme ; 4. H.fluitans; 5. Neckera pumila.—
R. B.

E. C. L.— Your article will appear in due course.

J. H. G.— Thanks for your suggestion about a Naturalist's
Calendar. It had already been considered by us, but it is too
late this year. We shall see what another will bring forth.

Senex.— You will find the text of the Wild Fowl Protection
Act, giving all details, and enumerating the birds, in the last
number of the Zoologist. It is much too long even for us to
give an abstract here.

Answers deferred. — M. T. — R. W.— T. G J W

E. T. S.— E. C. J., &c.

EXCHANGES.

For fragment of Vesicularia spinosa send stamped directed
envelope to P. Smith, Legh Street, Warrington.

For Erysiphe Martii and Trichohasis senecinnis send
stamped envelope to Isaac Wheatley, Mailing Street, Lewes.
Any microscopical object acceptable.

Livi.vo specimens of the Ringed Snake (Natrix torquatn)
and of the Blindworm (Anguis frugilis). State what required
for them.— Address, A. B. C, Post Office, Five Ways, Bir-
mingham.

C. MoscHATus offered for other Coleoptera. Longicnrnes
preferred.- E. C. Lefroy, 2, Granville Place, Blackheath, S.E.

For seed-pod of Lunaria biennis (unmounted) send stamped
envelope and object to A. H. Cartwright, 1, Brickwood Villas
Croydon. '

Fossil Diatomaceae, Ebstorff, Hanover, or OrbitoUtes corn-
planutus, both well mounted, for other slides. Names
required.— H. B. Thomas, 13, Market-place, Boston.

Larva of Ant Lion, alive, in exchange for well -mounted
entomological slides. Send list.— J. A. Graham, Stone Lodge,
St. John's Road, New Cross.

Growing plants of Ophioglossum vulgatum, Polypndlum
vulgare, Scolupendrium vulgare, Ike, for Birds' Eggs or larva
of Lepidoptera.— S. L. Mosley, Almondbury Bank, Hudders-
field.

For Peristomes of Moss {Hypnum rutahulum) send stamped
and directed envelope to Jno. H. Martin, 86, Week Street,
Maidstone.

Wanted Spiracles and Trachere mounted. Good named
slides given in exchange.— E. Lovett, Holly Mount, Croydon.

Lovely Adriatic Seaweeds and Dalmatian Flowering Plants
named, also Mexican and Panama, choice, for microscopic
slides.— N., 20, Maryland Road, Harrow Road, W.

Eggs of Spotted Flycatcher, Sedge Warbler, Meadow
Pipit, Moor-hen, Common Guillemot, in exchange for others.
— C. Bankart, Narbro', near Leicester.

Silkworms' Eggs in exchange for good microscopic ob-
jects.—Address, W. Brigg,Jun., Cliff Road, Leeds, Yorkshire.

Parasites wanted, other microscopic objects in exchange.
— T. W. Cowan, Horsham.

Scales of Exoccet us volitnns on receipt of stamped directed
envelope. Any object of interest acceptable. — John M.
Campbell, Bruce Buildings, 6, Carrick Street, Glasgow.

Mosses from Scotland for other mosses, or for Lichens. —
T. H., Highfield, Sydenham Hill, London.

Scales and pieces of skin of Ceylon Snakes for mounted
objects.— A. C. Haddon, 2, Pelham Villas, New Wimbledon.

Good British Lepidoptera in exchange for a few Foreign
Butterflies or Beetles.— C. R. Doward, 28, Pitmaston Road,
St. John's, Worcester.

British Lepidoptera in exchange for British or Foreign,
or microscopic slides.— Joseph Anderson, Jun., Alresford.

Spiracles of Privet Caterpillar, Larva of Cockchafer and
Blowfly, well mounted, for other good mounted objects. —
J. Ford, Stamford.

LoN. Cat. Brit. Plants, Nos. 2;;'*, 278* 2856, 776, 106li,
10856, 1184, 1188, &c., offered for 110, 12Q, I69, 289, 290, 650,
651, 1185, &c.— W. H. Beeby, 41, North End, Croydon.

One of Wheeler's 2ls. Pocket Microscopes, s.J inches long,
:J-inch diameter. It has Huyghenian eye-piece, ^-inch French
achromatic triplet, and glass stage for objects. Good field
and clear definition, and magnifying power of 100 diameters.
For one of Browning's Miniature 20s. Spectroscopes.— S.
Gillson, Mountsorrel, Loughborough.

Sticta aurata offered in exchange for other Lichens. —
Address, R. V, T., Withiel, Bodmin, Cornwall.

Wanted a few roots of Ceterach officinarum and others.
Derbyshire ferns given in exchange.— Thos. Shipton, Jun.,
12, High Street, Chesterfield.

Alchemilla conjuncta. Flowering-stem and two root-
leaves of this almost rarest of British plants. Found in
Cumberland some years ago, and preserved in a garden. I
want Arenuriii Ntirvegica, Inula sutirina, or Simethis bicolor.
— R. Wood, Vicarage, Westward, Wigton.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

" American Naturalist," fnr August.

" Canadian Entomologist," for August.

" Notes on Chalcidise." Part VII. By Francis Walker,
F.L.S. London: Janson.

" Our Blood Relations." Simpkin, Marshall, St Co.

" The Flora of Liverpool." Published by the Liverpool
Naturalists' Field Club.

"Half-Hours at the Seaside." By J. E. Taylor, F.G.S.
London : Hardwicke.

" Smithsonian Report for IS70." Washington, Government
Printing Office, 1871.

" Department of Agriculture Report, I870." Washington.

"Monthly Reports of the Department of Agriculture for
1871." Washington.

" Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture on the
Diseases of Cattle in the United States." Washington, I871.

" Science and Commerce; their Influence on Manufac-
tures." By P. L. Simmonds. London : Hardwicke.

Communications Received up to 12th.— H. E W.

T. R.-A. S.-G. E. D.-J. F. T.-G. H. H.— H. L.-J. J. K.
—A. H. C— H. B. T.— W. T. P. W.— I. W.— H. G. G.— P. S.
— W. H. B.— W. H. McL.— A. N.— J. L. C— F. H. M.-J. P.
—J. W. G.-W. R.— R. G.— J. A., Jun.— R. M. B.— J. F.—
J. H. M.— J. S. B.— W. N.— F. I. W.— W. G.— J. M. C—
J. R S. C— J. T.— S. A. B.— H. S. H.— G. T. N.— G. O. G. N.
E. L.-W. F. D.-J. C— M. G.— C. B.— J. C— J. B.— W. B.—
A. E. M.-T. W. C— A. A.— R. L.-R. V. T.— J. S., Jun.—
Rev. J. B.— H. F. H.— A. L.— W. F.— J. B.— A. C.— T. S.—
M. B.— R. W.— W. L. B.— W. T. I.— R. B.

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE-G OSS 1 F.

241

COLLECTING AND PEESEEVING.

No. X.-COMMENTS ON COLLECTING AND SETTING LEPIDOPTERA.

■HERE is aright

and a wrong

way of doing

everything" —

so says the

proverb : and

having read

the article on

" Collecting and Preserving "

in your late number, I am

sorry to see, among much that

is useful, a reproduction of

several mistakes which may

have become respectable by

reason of age, and repetition

by various authors of more or

less eminence ; but which are

none the less mistakes.

In the hope that you may
admit a kindly criticism of
Dr. Knaggs's interesting paper, I will venture to
suggest to beginners what experience has taught
me to be a more excellent way. Collectors are
recommended to set their lepidoptera on corked
boards with curved surfaces, that is to say,
rounded ofiF gradually from the central line towards
the sides. Now that seems to me to be a very
absurd way of setting butterflies; the wings of the
insect droop quite enough after they have been
taken off the board, without requiring to be set
in that position in the first instance. Specimens
look much better in a collection where the wings of
the butterflies and moths have been set so as to
maintain a perfectly horizontal position, than they
would do if they were all drooping ; and the wings
are also less liable to become crumpled in the
setting, and are more natural.

The setting-board or saddle, then, should have a
perfectly level and smooth surface on either side of
the central groove, and soft planed wood is almost
No. 95.

preferable to cork, having a more uniform surface.
(See fig. 170.)

Again, with regard to the braces for setting,
what advantage is there in having them pointed
and fastened only at one end ? Why should not
the brace be of the same width throughout, and be
continued over both wings at a time ? It would thus
exert a more equal pressure on the wings and keep
them much better in position. They are also more
easily cut.

Fig. 1/0. Level Setting-board.

In the year 18C9 I was spending the summer in
Germany, and in the space of one month and a half
I collected myself nearly three hundred different
species of butterflies and moths, and I had every
evening on an average between forty and fifty
specimens to set, which I had captured during
the afternoon, and the way I set them was the
following : —

Using the level saddles which 1 have already
described, made of soft deal, having pinned the
body of the insect straight in the groove, so that
the roots of the wings are on a level with the
surface of the board, I cut a number of long strips
of note-paper, the same width throughout, and the
width varying with the size of the insect : generally,
however, about one-sixth of an inch wide. Then
taking a strip in the left hand, 1 fasten one end of
it into the wood with a common pin, just above
where the border of the front wing will come when
in position; then holding the other end of the
strip in the left band, I place both wings of that
side in position by means of a finely pointed needle
and then stretch the strip of paper across them near

M

242

HARDVVICKE'S SCI EN CE-GO S SIP.

their roots, and pin it below the lower wing. A
similar strip is then applied to the opposite side,
and then another pair external to these to hold the
tip of the wings down. If the specimen is a very
large one, it will require a third set. (See fig. 171.)

Fig. 171. Mode of setting out Lepidoptera on level boar d .

This seems to me a much easier, quicker, and
more definite way of setting than that usually
adopted, and the specimen is rendered more worthy
of the cabinet.

With regard to the butterfly-net, I have often
seen them represented in diagrams as fastened on
to the end of a walking-stick. Now a walking-
stick with a net at the end of it is of no use what-
ever. The net which I used was 1^ ft. in diameter,
and 3 ft. long, and was at the end of a stick 7 ft.
long ; it was not heavy, and not at all inconvenient,
and if properly handled could be rendered short or
long as required. I always had a bag at my side
with a strap over my right shoulder : in this bag were
forty or 'fifty different-sized card-boxes, and when-
ever I caught a moth in the net, having thrown the
net over the top of the hoop, I cautiously passed
the open box into the net, and over the moth ; I
then passed the lid in between the net and the box
until I could shut it and inclose the moth; then
making the special mark for the day on the box-lid
with a pencil, so as to distinguish it from those
which were empty, I put it into the bag again.

The butterflies were killed with a squeeze when
caught, and pinned and placed in a corked box. I
carried my insect-pius in a flat pincushion fastened
to the buttonhole of my coat, so as to be always
ready at hand.

I found that bush-beating with a long stick was
very profitable, especially on a dull day, and I
always took a boy with me for that purpose, who
walked about eight yards in front of me.

On reaching home, I set the butterflies first,
before their wings began to get stiff; and then
administered chloroform to the moths in the boxes
one by one. I [was surprised to find how much
chloroform some moths, even of very small size,
could take, and yet come round after it. In the
case of larger ones, such as the Death's-head Moth

{Acherontia atropos), and the Sphingidse, having
chloroformed them, I gave them a thrust under the
thorax ^ith the point of a penknife dipped in
prussic acid.
Albion Place, Leeds. F. E. A.

NEW BOOKS.*

'T^HE publishers' lists, as well as the falling
-*' leaves and the sharp nights, inform us that
winter is nigh at hand. And, as will be seen from
our catalogue below, the cheerful fire need not be
without cheerful companionsliip. Those who are
fond of following up the results of theoretical
investigation into the world of practice, and of be-
holding the real greatness which ensues to a nation
thus alive to the importance of science, cannot be
otherwise than interested in Mr. Simmonds's book.
It is not too much to say that no other Englishman
could have written it, inasmuch as it is doubtful
if there be another so well "up "in commercial
science. Tlie subjects discussed in this book of
upwards of six hundred pages are of the highest
importance, and include a thorough and detailed
account of the mineral and auimal substances
entering into commerce ; the cotton and woollen
manufactures; the silk trade; glass, earthenware,
precious metals, iron, paper, leather, groceries, &c.,
having separate chapters also devoted to them.
"VVTien we remark that the statistics so copiously
given are the most recent, and from the highest
authoritative sources, and that all the latest appli-
cations of scientific discoveries are fully entered
into, and all the multitudinous questions discussed,
our readers may form some idea of the genuine prac-
tical character of the book. It is clearly printed,
nicely got up, and written in a plain and popular
style.

It is always a sincere pleasure to lis to recom-
mend works to our numerous readers, that are
equally pleasant and profitable, and never did we
more sincerely than in introducing Canon Kingsley's
and Professor Nicholson's books. The members of
the Chester Natural History Society are indeed
fortunate, for Canon Kingsley's is not the first book
we have had the pleasure of noticing which ori-
ginally made its appearance before them. As a
popular and pleasing writer on natural science, we

* " Science and Commerce : their Influence on our Manu-
factures." By P. L. Simmonds. London: Hardvvicke.

" Town Geology." By the Rev. Canon Kingsley, F.L.S.,
&c. London : Strahan & Co.

" Introduction to Biology." By Professor H. A. Nicholson.
London and Edinburgli : William Blackwood & Sons.

"The Vegetable World." By Louis Figuier. London :
Cassell & Co.

" Ilalf-Hours by the Seaside." By J. E. Taylor, F.G.S.
London : Hardvv'icke.

HAllDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

243

need not announce that the Rev. Charles Kingsley
occupies the first place. But we do not thinlc that
lie has written a book which will be received with
more pleasure than that now before us. Its geology
deals with the commonest objects — the soil of
the field; the pebbles in the street; the stones
in the wall ; the coal in the fire ; the lime in
the mortar; and the slates on the roof; so
that, in this manner, all the geological for-
mations in the neighbourhood of Chester are
popularly and exhaustively treated. So far, these
chapters have made their appearance before in one
of the leading magazines. But what has never yet
been before the public, and which, in our eyes, is
the best part of the book— is the long and elaborate
preface of fifty-six pages. There are portions of
this we should like to have read by every person
in the United Kingdom. Its style is thoroughly
" Kingsleyan," and its reverent earnestness will be
sufficient to convince every one of the grand dis-
plays of the Divine character which are hidden
from those who do not study " the word of God as
revealed in facts," as Bacon expressed it. There is
a manly and healthy tone about IMr. Kingsley's
views of the relations of science and religion that
cannot but wean prejudice from its conceited
narrowness. Space forbids us to do more than
simply recommend our readers to procure this
book, and to conclude with the following quotation
from it : — " I grudge that epithet of secular to any
matter whatsoever. But I do more ; I deny it to
anything which God has made, even to the tiniest
of insects, the most insignificant atom of dust.
To those who believe in God, and try to see all
things in God, the most minute natural phenomenon
cannot be secular. It must be divine ; I say, de-
liberately, divine ; and I can use no less lofty word.
The grain of dust is a thought of God's ; God's
power made it; God's wisdom gave it whatsoever
properties or qualities it possesses. God's provi-
dence has put it in the place where it is now, and
has ordered that it should be in that place at that
moment, by a train of causes and effects which
reaches back to the very creation of the universe.
If it go up to the physical heaven, 'and float (as it
actually often does) far above the clouds, in those
higher strata of the atmosphere which the aeronaut
has never visited, whither the Alpine snow-peaks
do not rise, even there it will be obeying physical
laws, which we term hastily laws of nature, but
which are really the laws of God ; and if it go down
to the physical abyss — if it be buried fathoms, miles
below the surface, and become an atom of some
rock still in the process of consolidation— has it
escaped from God, even in the bowels of the earth ?
Is it not there still obeying physical laws of pres-
sure, heat, crystallization, and so forth, which are
laws of God — the will and mind of God concerning
particles of matter ? "

Professor Nicholson's " Introduction to the
Study of Biology" is a book very much needed by
the student, who is apt to get bewildered by the
jargon of the schools, and to lose the facts of science
in the high-sounding terms which are selected to
express their generalizations. It is well done, and
contains evidences of sincere and earnest work. In
the parallel study of recent and extinct animals,
this " Introduction" will be of great value. Every-
thing that by any possibility is included in biology
is discussed. The wonder is how Professor Nichol-
son manages to turn out so many books, and to
turn them all out so well ! This little work, how-
ever, will bear favourable comparison with any of
his previous ones, not only in its careful finish, but
in the clear and original manner with which biolo-
gical theories and hypotheses are laid before the
reader.

M. Figuier's " Vegetable World" is pretty much
of the character of the other "worlds" which that
ingenious creator has evolved. If we were asked
to select the best of his books, however, we should
undoubtedly pick out that before us. Its wealth of
illustration, and the high finish of the woodcuts,
would alone recommend it. But there can be no
doubt as to the attractive style in which M. Figuier
writes, whatever may be said about the accuracy of
his science. There is a sad want of scientific order
in his arrangement of the subject-matter, and, bee-
like, we find him off one scientific sweet on to
another, as vagary leads him. The present edition
is " new and revised," and is much better as regards
its scientific arrangement than the preceding. It
includes the Organography of Plants, their classifi-
cation, systematic arrangement, and geographical
distribution. In the last chapter there is much that
is crude and incoherent, besides the fault of its
ignoring the most recent discoveries and generaliza-
tions on this important question.

The season is now gone ior the practical nse of
the last book on our list, although it may be found
useful for winter study. Modesty, however, forbids
us doing other than quoting from its preface :—
"An attempt has been made to introduce the
subject-matter in as methodical and scientific a
manner as possible, so that each chapter might be
a sketch of the natural history, classification, and
affinities of the animals described. In this manner
the young beginner will be brought into direct ac-
quaintance with the first principles of zoology.
When possible, the embryological relations of the
various forms, and the geological antiquity of the
genus or family to which they belong, have been
introduced. Thus it will be seen that, apart from
the interest attached to the study and observation
of the habits and economy of our commonest sea-
side objects, there are also connected with them
some of the profoundest speculations of modern

philosophy."

M 2

2U

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE-GO S S IP.

THE SPONGEOUS ORIGIN OF ELINTS.
By Peed. Kitton.

THE position of the Sponges seems to be midway
between the Amoebas and the Poraminifera,
the former consisting entirely of sarcode, and
without any kind of spicula or external shell ; and
the latter possessing a shell composed of one or
more chambers. The sponges, although destitute
of an external shell, possess a keratose skeleton,
strengthened in the majority of cases by calcareous
or silicious spicula.

The vital and therefore the most important part
of the sponge is the sarcode, and with your per-
mission I shall endeavour to give as lucid a descrip-
tion as possible of the important part performed by
this ma^^erial ; and perhaps the best idea of it can be
obtained by soaking a piece of isinglass in water.
The living sarcode, like the softened gelatine, is semi-
pellucid, varying in colour from external causes,
and during life insoluble in water.

The absence of special organs in the Amoebre,
Sponges, &c., clearly indicates that the power of
assimilating nutriment is possessed by this material,
and identifies it with the sarcodous system, covering
the digestive surfaces of animals. We can trace the
presence of this wondrous matter from the highly-
developed mammal to the humble amoeba ; other
organs may become obsolete, and at last we find
that sarcode alone remains. And this apparently
inert, shapeless, structureless mass of jelly is en-
dowed with the power of producing those elegant
forms known as polycystina and foraminifera, or, as
is the case with the sponges, the multitudinous
varieties of spicula (Bowerbank figures and describes
between two and three hundred distinct forms of
spicula, and does not then describe all the forms),
and even builds up with silex abstracted from the
waters a silicious skeleton of surpassing beauty,
as seen in the Euplectella and Dactylocalyx, or
elaborates long bundles of silicious fibres, as in
Hyalonema and Pliaroncma.

Another substance found in sponges, and that
with which we are best acquainted, is keratode, or
horny fibre : this, like the silicious framework just
alluded to, is invested with sarcode. In some genera
(as in the sponges used for domestic purposes),
no spicules are formed; in others the spicules
predominate.

As we find among the foraminifera certain forms
which do not secrete a shell, but form one by
gluing together minute grains of sand, so may we
also detect certain species of sponge in which the
skeleton has neither silic nor solid keratose, but
is composed of grains of sand inclosed in a thin
keratose covering.

I must, however, now call your attention to the
protoplasm found in layers on the ooze at the

bottom of the sea. Those of us who attended the
Biological section of the British Association in
1868, will remember an interesting paper by Pro-
fessor Huxley on Bathybius, in which he described
thi5 sarcodous layer, and the remarkable forms
occurring in it, known as coccoliths and cocco-
spheres. These forms may be found in chalk, clearly
indicating that the bottom of the sea, during the
Cretaceous period, was also covered in places with
protoplasm. I must ask you to bear this fact in
mind, as I think we shall find that it has an
important bearing on the theory of the Spongeous
Origin of Chalk Plints.

If a thin chip or section of flint is submitted to
microscopic examination, sponge spicules in more or
less abundance will invariably be seen ; mixed with
these will be found casts of the interior of the
chambers of foraminifera, fragments of polyzoa, and
small molluscous shells.

When a recent .'sponge is examined, similar or-
ganisms will be seen entangled in the reticulated
skeleton. A cretaceous flint, like silica obtained by
dialysis, is non-crystalline, breaks with a distinct
conchoidal fracture, is singly refractive, and there-
fore is not affected by a polarized beam of light, in
this respect resembling silica taken up by undoubted
animal or vegetable organisms. I may, perhaps, be
reminded that the cuticle of the Dutch rush and
the stellate hairs of Deutzia, both of which are
silicious, do polarize, and exhibit brilliant colour
when examined by light in that condition ; but this
is not in consequence of their silicious nature, but is
due to the presence of a membraneous film in-
vesting the cuticle or hair. If a piece of Equisetum
or Deutzia is boiled in sulphuric acid, and then
decarbonized with chlorate of potash, a display of
colour will no longer be visible. The shells of the
polycystina, sponges, spicules, and the diatomaceoe
are all singly refractive.

The base of silica is silicon. Silica under certain
conditions is soluble in water to a considerable
extent. Waters holding silica in solution, — that is to
say, in any large quantity of it, — are now extremely
rare ; the Geyser and llykum in Iceland, and the
Pennakoon and Loongootha in India, are the best
known. An analysis of a gallon of the Geyser
water showed 31"50 of silica. It is highly probable
that silica was present in larger quantities in the
earlier epochs of the world. This, however, is not
a question of much importance, as we know that it
exists in a soluble form, and is eliminated, often in
great abundance, by various organisms. I need
only refer you to the Alcyoncellum, Hyalonema,
Pharonema, and other silicious sponges, as evidence
of that fact.

The presence of silica in a state of solution being
an ascertained fact, there is nothing improbable in
the hypothesis that sponges should have formed
the nuclei of these flinty concretions : the silicious

HARDWICKE'S SC lENCE- GO S S IP.

2<1.5

spicules would possibly exert an attractive in-
fluence upon the atoms of silica in solution, in a
similar way tliat a crystal of saltpetre would be the
startiug-poiut for further crystallization in a solution
of that salt.

Another and still more effectual cause of the
elimination of silica would be the decomposition of
the sarcode and keratode material ; as this goes on
certain gases are produced, and the silex preci-
pitated from the solution.

The discoveries of Wallich, Carpenter, and others,
of protoplasm or sarcode existing at the bottom of
the ocean, and to which I have previously alluded,
appear to alford a prcbable explanation of the
cause of solution to the flinty layers found in some
of the chalk strata. The opponents to the spongeous
origin of flints brought forward the existence of these
layers as a proof that sponges were not the nuclei of
fiiuts, and until the existence of this free sarcode
was detected, the occurrence of flints in some
localities in the form of nodules, and, in others as
layers, was difficult to account for; but when it was
found that sarcode existed in masses covering a
considerable area, a clue to the formation of the
flint layers became apparent. Carbonic acid gas
and hydrogen were liberated when decomposition
set in, and silex replaced the sarcode. That flints
are now forming, is, I think, as certain as the
formation of new beds of chalk ; and it is an ascer-
tained fact that valleys in the bed of the ocean
are, as in days of yore, being gradually filled with
calcareous matter intermingled with remains of
sponges, or permeated with protoplasm : these, as
decomposition slowly takes place, are separating the
silica from the surrounding waters.

Fig. 172. Polypothecia x 150 diameters, green sand,
Warminster, Wilts.

It will, I think, be allowed, that flint nodules
could not have been found in chalk unless a nucleus
had existed ; the silica contained in the water was
chemically combined with it, the chalk only me-
chanically, and if any silica was parted with, it

would only act as silicious cement hardening the
atoms of chalk.

The probability that flints are still in the process
of formation is confirmed by the frequent discovery
of silicious casts of foraminifera ; those usually found
are composed 'of silex, with traces of iron, giving
them an olive-green colour, precisely like those
found in the green sand.

In a dredging made at Porto Seguro by Capt.
Perry, of Ifiverpool, I found many shells of forami-
nifera, which, when acted upon by acid, showed the
interior filled with a silicious cast of the internal
chambers, and in some specimens even the pseudo-
podal apertures had also been filled with silex ;
fragments of other silicified organisms were also
of frequent occurrence. The casts found in this
dredging differed from those usually found by the
absence of any trace of iron, and appeared to be
silica in a similar condition to the ordinary chalk
flint.

Fig. 173. Polypothecia x 150 diameters, g-reei sand,
Carrow, Norwich.

In the green sand large silicious nodules, known
as Polypothecia, are of frequent occurrence, and
when thin sections are examined their spongeous
origin is distinctly seen. These nodules were, how-
ever, formed under somewhat different conditions
to the ordinary chalk flint ; the silica is distinctly
crystalline and doubly refractive, and polarizes like
quartz or agate ; the sponges were also probably
different from those belonging to the chalk. A
careful microscopic examination of very many sec-
tions did not reveal the presence of any form of
spiculum; they.were most likely aUiedto the recent
keratode sponges ; in fact, a thin slice of ordinary
domestic sponge greatly resembles a section of its
silicified predecessor. The reticulations are not
solid, but tubular, and I have been able, in many
cases, to fill them with colouring matter.

The above figures are from camera lucida
drawings of sections of Polypothecia ; —fig. 172,Trom
the green sand, Warminster ; fig. 173 from a frag-

nr,

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE -GO S S IP.

meut obtaiued from Mr. Colinau's artesian well, at
Carrow, Norwich.

The following extract from a paper ou the process
of silicifieation of animals, read before the Geolo-
gical Association last year, by Mr. H. M. Johnson,
E.G.S., may perhaps be of interest. The author
points out "how a crop of sponges invested with*
their gelatinous flesh or sarcode, and living at the
bottom of a deep ocean, were suddenly buried in a
thick stratum of white mud, consisting of the minute
shells of foraminifera ; that they then died, and that
while in the process of decomposition this inter-
change of materials took place ; the nascent carbonic
acid parting with its carbon in exchange for the
silica of the silicate of soda which sea-water is
known to contain."

To illustrate the power possessed by decomposing
organic matter he produced two tadpoles, or rather
one and the remains of a second. The first had
been placed in a solution of silica, and after the
lapse of a few hours was submitted to the action of
nitric acid, without any apparent injury : the other,
■which had not been submitted to the silicifyiug
process before being placed in the nitric acid, was
instantly destroyed, the only trace of it being a
little brown cloud floating in the acid.

The discoveries made in the dredging expeditions
of the Porcupine and the Noma have given an im-
petus to the study of the sponge forms, and although
we may not have the opportunity of adding new
genera or species, all of us who possess a micro-
scope can study the life history of the common
fresh-water sponge, Spongilla fluviatilis. It may be
found in almost every pond or small stream, and a
few hours' study of a fragment of a living sponge
will give the observer a better idea of that mar-
vellous substance we call sarcode or protoplasm,
than any lecture or paper can ever hope to do. —
Tratts. Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Soc, 1872.

I^OTES ON NATURAL HISTORY IN THE
NEIGHBOURHOOD OF ROTTERDAM
AND GHENT.

THE STORK.-I saw nothing of this bird in
Rotterdam itself; perhaps the place was too
busy for it. At Delfshaven, a village near the town,
a party of storks had taken up their abode. There
were seven of them ; I think they were the two
old birds and five young ones. The nest was on a
low brick chimney, right in the village ; the nest
was much larger than the chimney, and j projected
all round. When I first saw them, on the 15 Ih of
July, they were all full-grown ; they hovered and
wheeled about at a great height in the air, as if
practising for their departure southward, which
took place about the end of the month. The birds
seemed very tame, and swooped down between the

houses quite fearlessly. Their resting-place was
the ridge of the church roof, where they stood on
one leg, in the sun, cleaning their feathers. In the
fish-market at the Hague there were some tame
storks that fed on the refuse from the fish. They
did not seem in very good condition ; perhaps the
fact of their not migrating did not agree with them.
Rude figures of this bird constantly occur in bits
of wood carving over doorways, &c.,or cut in stone on
the houses in Rotterdam, while nearly all the country
cottages have a curious sort of iron dome-shaped
frame over their chimneys, which are supposed to
induce the storks to build. The latter are believed
to bring good luck with them. The Heron, as would
be expected, was very plentiful, both in Holland
and Belgium, and birds in general were very abun-
dant about Rotterdam ; quite different from France
in this respect. I was told by a naturalist that
plovers differed slightly in plumage from English
ones.

Amongst the fresh-water Molli/sca, the Umonidte
hold an important place. The commonest species
about Rotterdam was Unio pictorim. The shells
were longer and thinner than my Thames speci-
mens. I noticed quantities of rotten shells of
this species and Anodonta cygnea, in the sandy
loam that had been cut for a new canal. There
were also large tree-trunks lying in the soil, which
is quite destitute of stones. In a heap of gravel,
which, I was told, had been brought down from the
Rhine, there were a number of JJnio littoralis. I
had never met with it in a living state before,
although it occurred in a fossil state, associated
with recent land and fresh-water shells, Cijrena
fluminalis, and elephant remains, at Erith, where I
got fossil specimens. Anodonta cygnea was com-
mon enough, but I did not see any large specimens ;
those from the canal at the Hague were small,
ventricose, and ill-formed ; perhaps the sandy bottom
in most of the canals is unfavourable to the species.
Dreisseua pohjmorplia was very plentiful in the
river Maas. About Rotterdam the water is quite
fresh, although rising and falling with the tide.
The sandy soil on which the town is built is full of
dead shells in places, of fresh-water species, B.
polymorpha amongst them.

The sea mussel {Mytilus edulis) is very much
eaten in Holland and Belgium. In Ghent it was
served up as a delicacy at dinner. In the museum
there is a picture by Albert Cujp, at Rotterdam,
of a blacksmith leaving his forge to come out and
eat mussels, with a group round him, just such as
you see in the back part of Rotterdam at present
round a mussel-cart.

The Goat-moth (Cosstis ligniperda) infested the
endless rows of pollard willows along the roads and
dykes. The perfect insect was over ; but there
were lots of empty pupa-cases sticking out. One
of these moth-infected trees was the centre of

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

m

attraction for a number of large Tortoise-shells
{Vanessa polycldoros) and other insects. On the
sand-hills near Schevening I saw a Queen of Spain
fritillary {Argyrus Jatho7iia), but searched in vain
for Pieris Daplidii and Collas hyale, which were
so common in Brittany. The flora of these sand-
hills was different from both those of Brittany and
the English ones. I have seen amongst the flowers
Saponaria officinalis, the " Soapwort," which was
very conspicuous.

The Water Villarsia {Villarsia nympli(coides^ was
very plentiful in the smaller ditches, and the Marsh
Sow-thistle {Sonchus palustris), also the flowering
rush (Bidomus umbellafus) flourished everywhere.

In the neighbourhood of Ghent, in Belgium, the
Gipsy-moth (Liparis dispar) was so abundant as
to be quite a feature in the natural history of the
district. In some places the roadside pollard
poplars were inhabited by the female moth, cocoons,
larvae, and eggs, all at the same time, while the
male insect flitted up and down with the same sort
of zigzag, rapid flight as the Vapourer moth, in
the sunshine. As far as flight was concerned, it
seemed to me the female Gipsy-moth would have
done just as well witiiout wings, for I never saw
any of them move. They clung to the bark with
great tenacity, and after laying their eggs, remained
resting on the trunks till they died and fell off, or
the rain washed them down. The females varied a
good deal in size and colour. The eggs are not at
all concealed, as the colour of the down with which
they are covered seldom matched the tint or texture
of the bark on which they were placed : they
appeared to prefer the south side of the tree-trunk.
The slight cocoons were spun on the rough bark,
sometimes one or two over the otlier. My obser-
vations dated from the d-th of August.

A friend of mine, residing in Antwerp, told me
he was summoned by the civil authorities to show
why he had not killed the caterpillars in his garden,
and he found there was a law compelling every one
to kill the caterpillars on his premises. Those of
the Gipsy-moth must afford them considerable
trouble, from their numbers. The Swallow-tail
{Papilio machaon) was to be had in the clover-
fields about Ghent. Those I saw were in good
condition, and belonged to a second brood. I took
some once about the same date at Horning Een, in
Norfolk.

There was an interesting section of the sandy
strata on which the town is built, under the fort,
where some excavations had been made. As far as
I could tell, they appeared to be marine Tertiary,
lower Eocene ; they contained a good many fossils,
a species of Ostrea, a large Cardium, a Solarium,
and a number of shark's teeth and fish-remains.
I should say the spot would be a profitable one to
a geologist; it is close to the town.

Hae-ky Leslie.

A MYCOLOGICAL IIAMBLE.

A LATE number of Science -Gossip and the
-^^ propitious weather induced me a few days
ago to revisit a woodland spot about two miles off,
which during the years 1854;-9 I used very fre-
quently to explore for fungi. I was then alone, but
this time I had with me five young companions,
some of them keen observers and collectors, and all
of them well able to attest the delight of a success-
ful mycologicai ramble. Ours lasted about two
hours and a half, in the afternoon. A few only of
our findings can be mentioned, but these may suffice
to show the variety of beautiful and interesting
fungi obtainable during a short autumn walk in a
good locality.

Amongst the Agarics the Amanitse were not so
numerous as we had anticipated. A. rufescens-
abounded and was in great perfection. A. phal-
loides and A. mappa were found, but not satisfac-
torily exhibiting the delicate and finished structure
proper to this royal family amongst the fungi.
Trlcholoma rutilans, with its pileus like the sunny
side of an American peach, was worthy of itself.
Clitocyhe infundihuUformis showed a chalice neater
than the finest work in terra-cotta. A magnificent
tuft of PhoUota aureus was descried far enough off
to give scope for a good race. A. fine Psalliota, tall
and large, with bright yellow pileus and base,
was received with the remark — "it is not in our
books," though I have seen it figured somewhere
very recently. Paxillus involutus was, of course,
not rare, and P. panuoides, very like a golden Chan-
tarelle, grew where it did in 1858, on the spot from
which it was sent to be identified by the Rev. M.
T. Berkeley. I must not attempt to mention ray
old favourites the Mycente, graceful as ever, though
many familiar forms were absent. The Boleti,
Pezizse, and Sphseria, were not very numerously
represented ; possibly some of the finest species
had passed away. The Polypori, however, were in
grand condition. The common P. sqnamostis has, I
think, seldom been seen to greater advantage. P.
intybaceus was hailed, as well it might be, with
great delight, its many confluent stems looking as
if sculptured in Bath stone. P. betulinus was first
descried growing on a broken branch of a birch-tree,
more than 20 feet from the ground. The necessity
for a climb was happily averted by the discovery on
the ground of a portion of the broken branch on
which were growing four beautiful specimens. Some
sacrilegious hand or foot liad made sad havoc with
a noble growth of P. (jiganteus, which was still
beautiful even in its ruin. Several smaller species
occurred ; amongst them P. picipes and P. adustus.
The species of Stereum were only just beginning
their winter growth. The specimens of Fistulina
were Protean in shape, colour, and size. The
Clavarias yielded the coral-like C. rugosa, and flaming

248

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

tufts of C. huequalis, almost equalled in size and
surpassed in colour by Calocera viscosa. These
formed, numerically, a small proportion of the fungi
collected in a locality where lichens are almost
absent, mosses uot plentiful, and scaleworts are
becoming scarce, owing, as I believe, to the im-
purity of the atmosphere, and where almost the
only flowering plants of much botanical interest are
Scutellaria minor and two species of Potamogeton.

Just as in our native- Entomology, the study of
the Hymenoptera, when once fairly entered upon,
affords more of biological interest than the study of
all the other orders of insects put together ; so I
believe it to be with Mycology, as compared with
other departments of Botany.

Henry H. Higgins. ,

A CURIOUS BRITISH PLANT.

rpHE little plant, of which the accompanying
J- figures are illustrations, appears to the writer
to possess considerable interest, and to be un-
doubtedly a cross or hybrid (and to some extent a
fertile one) between the Bilberry or Whortleberry
{Vacciiiium myrtillus) and the Cowberry or Red
Whortleberry {V. vitis-idaa), though it is but
candid to observe that this last point was doubted
by several Eellows of the Linnean Society, at one of
the meetings of which it was lately exhibited. The
following more particular description will, we think,
be sufficient to convince any botanist that the plant
cau neither be considered as F. myrtillus nor V.
vitis-ideea, but must be a cross between the two.

A large tussuck or clump of the plant was first
noticed a few years back in a rather interesting
locality in Staffordshire, mentioned in the "Origin
of Species," * as an instance where the' fencing and
introduction of one plant (the Scotch fir) has pro-
duced a remarkable change in a portion of a large
and barren heath, which had never before been
touched by the hand of man— a change in the
relative proportion of the heath plants, in the
relative number of other flowering plants, or an
excess of them in the inclosed part of the heath,
and the advent in it of several insectivorous birds,
different from those on the still wild moor. We may
ourselves notice the Sirex gigas and S. juvencus
amongst insects as having become frequent in the
wooded part.f We do not suppose, however, that
this change of vegetation has anything to do with
the production of the plant in question, and need
only add here that all around ,the supposed hy-
brid, in society and even in contact with it, is a

* 1859, p. 71.

t The hills were planted by Mr. Wedgwood, the cniiiiciit
potter, and are called tlic Maer and Camp Hills, the latter
name from several Saxcn encampments and mounds situated
on their summits.

profusion of both .the species of Vaccinium above
mentioned.

Even at the first glance it would require a stretch
of credulity to suppose, as has been supposed, that
a plant with a large sweet black berry, and a flower
globular like the glass shades used to cover gas jets,
can be a variety of the cowberry, with its smaller
crimson acerb berry, and divided patulous flower.
We should be rather disposed to appropriate it to
the bilberry ; but thence we should be deterred,
prima facie, by its non-deciduous leaves, and
rounded twigs, so very different from the bilberry's.

Fig. 174. Hybrid Bilberry.

To proceed with the description of our plant, the
leaves are coriaceous or thick like those of the cow-
berry or box, not thin and membranous as in the
bilberry, though they are well serrated, like those of
the latter plant ; neither are they so blunt and

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

219

obovate as those of the cowberry, and have only a
slight trace of the glandular dots so conspicuous on
their undersurface; netherare their margins revolute.
The berries are occasionally scattered and axillary,
as in the bilbei-ry, but chiefly terminal, as in the cow-
berry, though then solitary or few in number, unlike
■what they are in the clusters of the latter ; on this
account called bunch-berry here. The shape of the
corolla has already been referred to as exactly that
of the bilberry's, but white and transparent, or
tinged with pink, not red. The calyx is also leafy,
and divided as in the cowberry. The curious
stamens are shaped as in Vaccinium generally, being
like two slender flasks joined together and opening
at the tip of the necks ; they agree with the bilberry
in having the side-hoi-ns or processes, but smaller :
these are absent in the cowberry; on the other
hand, they have the curious hairs on the filaments.

Fig. 170. Flowers and Leaves of Hybrid Bilberry.

not seen in the bilberry. The berries are black and
large, as in the bilberry, but without its blue bloom ;
the teeth of the calyx remain at their summits.
The time of flowering agrees with the bilberry,
being earlier than that of the cowberry, and so with
the fruit ; but it must be observed that both the
bilberry and the hybrid flower or fruit to a less
extent almost the whole year round, which is less the
case with the cowberry, it fruiting in August. There
are especially two crops of bilberries in the year ;
one about midsummer, the other late in autumn :
for instance, we purchased them on October 27th of
last year. To our taste the fruit of the bilberry is
pleasant when cooked, and, we believe, little likely
to disagree with the partaker ; the cowberry differs
but little in flavour from the scarcer and much
dearer cranberry, for which it is sometimes sold to
the unobservant.

The hybrid is handsomer in its foliage and less
straggling than the cowberry. It flowers and fruits

much more scantily than either of its parents. The
microscope shows that the grains of its pollen are
generally slirunkeu, though a few present the plump
tripartite form common in the genus. In such
berries as were examined there were not more
than from two to five apparently perfect seeds,
whilst there were a dozen or more in the cowberry,
and twice as many in the bilberry.

Such are the characters, pretty carefully observed,
and faithfully described, which led the friend* who
first noticed the plant, and who forwarded it to me,
as well as myself, to consider it to be a hybrid.
In fact, no botanist could find good reasons for
arranging it with either the bilberry or cowberry
exclusive, the two sets of specific characters being
so mixed.

Au eminent observer, who was good enough to
look at the plant, suggested that if it were a hybrid
it would be found, most probably, to be barren; and
the scanty flowers and berries, as well as the very
few perfect seeds and the shrunken pollen, bear out
the latter surmise to some extent. The wonder is,
how it happens that our two common Vaccinia,
growing both together in profusion on our hills, arc
not oftener crossed. Perhaps the somewhat dif-
ferent time of flowering may be one cause, and
another the perfect shielding in most of these plants
of the pistils from foreign pollen by the globular
corolla. The use of the horns on the anthers of the
bilberry, and the protrusion or not of the stigma
from the corolla in heath plants are also subjects for
thought or research.

Though plants growing in great profusion are apt
to vary, yet we only know of one marked variation
of the bilberry, and that in a spot two or three miles
from the locality already mentioned. On one
hillock, in the open glade of a fir wood, the bil-
berries are all (instead of their usual black colour
with a fine bloom) of a transparent yellowish-white,
a little mottled with pink. This, however, con-
stitutes a very different case from the previous one.

E, Gaknee, P.L.S.

ON THE ABUNDANCE OP VANESSA
ANTIOPA IN 1872.

THE sudden appearance in considerable numbers
of that rare butterfly, the Camberwell Beauty
{Vanessa Aiitiopa) throughout the east and south-
east of England, and more sparingly throughout
the country, seems to call for some special notice.

This species is common in most parts of the Con-
tinent of Europe, extending as far north as Lap-
land, and seems to be pretty constant in its num-
bers ; but the great uncertainty about its appearance
in this country has been noticed for a long period .

* D. Ball. Esq., F.R.C.S.

250

HAEDWiCKE'S SCIENCE- GOSSIP.

Moses Harris, writing in 1775, does not speak of it
as any rarity ; but Berkeuhaut, in 17S9, writes," very
rare in this kingdom." In 1793 it received the
name of "The Grand Surprise" from Harris and
the Society of Aureliaus (as entomologists were
then called), of which he was a member, on account
of its sudden appearance iu extraordinary numbers.
Donovan (1794) states that there have been several
instances in mild seasons of its being as common as
the Peacocks and ' Adnnra.hXFanessa lo and Ata-
lanta), and that in 1793 it was as plentiful in some
places as the common garden whites usually are
near London. Curtis, in his " British Entomology,"
says that a few were taken in SufTolk in 1S19, and
that Mr. Samouelle took one hyberuated specimen
the following spring, but that it had not been seen
for many years before.

Fig. 176. Camberwell Beauty {Vanessa Aniiopa),

Wood, in his " Index Entomologicus in 1S39,"
records it as occurring in woods in Surrey on the
oak, and also that a specimen had been taken near
Norwich in May.

The year 1846 has been called the Antiopa year
(a name which it can now hardly retain), from the
numbers which were then seen and taken in many
parts of the country. The next spring hybernated
specimens were met with, but it then became as
rare as ever. I am informed, however, that one
specimen was seen at Easton, near Norwich, on
July 31st, 1847, or 1848, by Mr. J. H. Gurney. I
have no notices at iiand of its occurrence during the
next few years, but in 1856 one was seen in the
spring in the Isle of Wight. In 1857 five were
taken — one in Norfolk, two iu Essex, one in Lan-
cashire, and one in Northumberland, and a sixth
was seen. In 1858 the same number were taken —
two in Essex, one in Norfolk, and two in Lanca-
shire ; in 1859, two in Yorkshire; and in 1861,
one near Coldstream. No more seem to be re-
corded till 1865, when one was taken at Tenterden
and another seen at Ilfracombe. None were seen
for the next two years, but in 1868 fourteen were
noticed— four in Norfolk (two of which were taken

at Sparham), one at Ipswich, one at Chatteris, sir
near Cambridge, and one each at Tadeaster and
Gruudisburgh. Notwithstanding this unusual num-
ber, no hybernated specimen seems to have been
noticed in the following spring, nor is any specimen
recorded for that year ; but in 1870 specimens oc-
curred at Rochester, Cheltenham, and in Suffolk ;
and in 1871, one at Sevenoaks, and one seen at
Buxton, near Norwich, on a bleeding alder-tree, by .
my friend Mr. E. P. Wheeler.

Of the grand appearance this season, the head-
quarters seem to be Norfolk, in which county at
least fifty have been seen and thirty taken, and the
remaining eastern counties have come in for a very
large share. It is obvious that the numbers re-
corded are but a portion of what have been seen ;
for instance, the Editor of Science-Gossip was so
overwhelmed with notices that he could
not find room for them (see page 234), but
from the records published in the Ento-
mologisfs Monthly Magazine, and New-
man's Uiitomologisf, sufiicient statistics
can be gathered to show in some degree
the relative numbers. In Cambridgeshire
at least twenty-five have been seen and
many captured ; Suffolk records from
twenty to thirty ; Essex over twenty ;
Kent twenty-three, and others seen ;
"Yorkshire thirty ; but Lincolnshire only
five, a disparity which must surely arise
from a want of observers.

The southern counties come next —
Sussex with four taken and others seen,
Surrey thirteen, Hants seventeen, and
Berks two ; and thei'e seems to have been a good
sprinkling over the central counties, as iu Middle-
sex six are recorded, in Herts five and " several,"
in Hunts two, Bucks one, Leicestershire one,
Derbyshire ten, Nottingham one, and Staffordshire
four, and others seen. Even the North has made a
good sliow — Durham four, Northumberland one,
and eleven in different parts of Scotland. The dis-
trict in whidi they have been rare is the western,
there being only notices of three iu Lancashire, one
in Cheshire, three in Wales, and one in Somerset.
Ireland does not appear to have furnished a single
specimen.

In the 'Entomologist s MontJdy Magazine for this
month (October) is an able paper by Mr. Stainton
on this subject, iu which he adduces forcible argu-
ments to prove that these insects are not bred
in this country, but are only immigrants from
Norway.

This view is powerfully supported by the com-
parison given above, of the numbers seen in different
counties and districts, and also by the fact to which
Mr. Stainton draws attention, that so many of the
captures were made on the coast. Even the earliest
recorded specimen this year, on July 26th, at Yar-

HARDWICKE'5 SCIEN CE. GOSSIP.

251

mouth, occurred after twenty-four hours of stormy
east wind. Moreover, the white margins, which have
been looked upon as the peculiar property and^/roo/'
of British specimens, turn out to be shared by those
of the Scandinavian peninsula as well as of those of
Silesia and the Alps. In any case, this distinguish-
ing character would fail us this year, for specimens
are recorded in both Lincolnshire and Lancashire
with yellow borders; and Mr. Frank Norgate, of
Sparham, Norfolk, in writing to a friend, says : " It
[a specimen taken on October 7th] is the thirteenth
specimen that has been caught in this immediate
neighbourhood. They vary in size and colour, some
having decidedly yellow, and others white, borders
to their wings."

There are, however, serious difficulties in the way
of accepting the theory of migration in this case.
All the migrations of butterflies which have been
noticed seem to have been in large swarms or flights,
this being an important business, which they pi'efer
to undertake in companies. Accordingly, it seemed
desirable to ascertain whether they had beeu//-5^
observed in numbers on any part of our coast ; and
as the neighbourhood of Cromer, Sherringham, and
that district of the north-east of Norfolk seems to
have yielded the largest numbers, and as, moreover,
that is the very district in which the greatest num-
ber of birds migrating southward commonly arrive,
I have been at some pains to obtain accurate in.
formation from that neighbourhood. The results
are not as might be expected in the case of an im-
migration. Mr. H. M. Upcher, of Sherringham,
writes : " The first one I saw was on August 20Lh,
three miles inland ; the next day, one by the side of
a covert ; 23rd, one at Salthouse ; 24th, five at
Sherringham, and one at Hempstead ; 29th, five at
Sherringham. Most of them were quite in the
middle of the covers, in an open 'spot called the
Green-lane." Similarly, the Rev. T. H. Marsh, of
Cawston, found them at Cawston and Drayton,
near Norwich; one on August 20th, two on the
21st, three more on the 23 rd and 2J:th, apparently
fresh from the pupa ; two on the 26th, three on the
28th, and so on. And Mr. C. M. Lowe, writing
from Cromer to the Untomologist, says : " We
have seen eleven here within the last few days."
More inland, they appeared almost at the same
time at Cambridge ; one on August 22nd, six on the
24th, five on the 25th, one on the 2Cth, six on the
28th, and so on. In other counties the first records
are Suffolk, August 24th ; Essex, 23rd ; Kent, 25th ;
Yorkshire, one on the 16th, others on and after the
21st ; Lincoln, middle of August ; Hants, 22nd ;
Surrey, 16th ; Middlesex, 25th ; Staffordshire, ISth
and 22ud ; but in Scotland, one as early as August
3rd ; the rest from the 21st onward. In the western
districts they were later. Wales, August 27th;
Lancashire, September 4th ; and the greater portion
of these dates would be perfectly in accordance

with the idea of a migration, if it could be shown
that a large number had appeared on the eastern
coast on August 20th instead of only two solitary
specimens. As it is, if we accept the immigration
view, we must suppose that a succession of stray
specimens must have come over at intervals, a few
appearing from July 26th to Aug. 16, and a larger
number from August 20th to 28th. Mr. Stainton,
however, suggests that the earlier specimens may
be' true natives, in which case the number oithem
would be above the usual average.

Another difficulty is the appearance of a con-
siderable number of specimens on the southern
coast in Hants and Sussex simultaneously with
those in Norfolk and Yorkshire. These would hardly
have crossed the country at once, and their white
borders forbid the idea that they might have come
from France.

Supposing, however, that all were bred in this
country, the appearance of one or two at first, and
after a few days of larger numbers, would be en-
tirely in accordance with the usual habits of insects
when emerging from the pupa, as also would their
earlier appearance in the east and south than in the
north-west of England.

That the larvse have not been noticed this season
would readily be accounted for by the fact that they
feed in companies on the trees, probably high up,
and that their work would very likely be mistaken
for that of an early brood of Pygcera bucephala
(the Buff-tip moth).

A third objection to the migration view is the
extreme fineness of the specimens first taken. My
friend ]\Ir. Wheeler, who saw some of the earlier
Cambridge specimens, tells me that they were in
the most perfect condition, evidently fresh from the
pupa — indeed, iu one case the wings seemed hardly
dry, — and that they seemed to have been reared upon
the willows about which they were first discovered.
Mr. Upcher writes : " Most of the specimens caught
are so fine and fresh that they cannot possibly have
undergone a sea voyage." The Rev. T. H. Marsh
says: " Beautifully fine and fresh, apparently just
out of the pupa." And two or three that have come
under my own observation seemed to have the
bloom so fresh upon them — the nervures beiug still
well clothed with scales— that it was difficult to
suppose that their wings could have been used for
a long flight.

Mr. Haworth's idea that the eggs remained dor-
mant for many years until special circumstances
brought them to life, is well known, but does not
find favour with many entomologists. My own has
been that the butterfly occurs every year in this
country, since it is noticed and recorded in the
majority of seasons ; and that most of the young
larvse usually perish from the dampness of the
climate, but that in this season the extreme heat
of the first three weeks of July enabled them to feed

252

HARDWICKE'S S C IE N CE- GOSS IP.

up safely. This supposition is favoured by the fact
that specimens are recorded in many different years
in Lancashire— a county unfavourably situated for
migrants'; and this, I think, arises from the large
number of resident collectors in that county, and
the consequent closeness of observation. I confess,
however, that I am now unable to decide between
the conflicting arguments.

It seems probable that most of the specimens still
at large went into hybernation during the gales
which blew early in September, as the latest notices
from various counties seem to be September 5th,
8lh, 9th, and 14th, but one is recorded from Scot-
land as late as September 2Gth ; and I have just
heard of two more stragglers in Norfolk as late as
October 5th and 7th. There is reason to hope,
therefore, that many fine specimens are in safe
quarters, to re-appear next spring.

Of my own exertions in pursuit of them I have
said nothing. It is a painful subject. SufSce it
to say that the result of a fortnight, of wliicli every
available hour of sunshine was occupied in hunting
for them, was that I had seen two specimens,
neither of which condescended to come within reach
of the net.

Norwich. Chas. G. Barrett.

THUNDER-BOLTS.

THE abundance of a fossil is always indicated by
its having a popular name, and the reader can
hardly travel over any particular geological locality
without finding one or more of its characteristic
fossils thus occupying a place in popular nomen-
clature. Not a few are the traditions and scraps of
folk-lore that cluster around these ancient relics.
Thus, at Whitby, the Liassic Ammonites become
the snakes which were petrified by "Holy Hilda's"
prayers ; and the numerous ossicles, or joints, of the
stems of a characteristic Eacrinite {Poitacrinus
briareus) are transformed into " St. Cutlibert's
Beads" (see Scott's "Mar mion"). In Spain, the
Tcrehratula is a charm against tlie cholera, and the
fishes' teeth found fossilized in the Miocene beds of
jMalta go by the name of " Satan's Claws," — that
ubiquitous and evil-disposed individual having torn
off his digital extremities whilst vainly endeavour-
ing to climb the cliffs !

But pcrliaps the geological objects around which
most folk-lore and general ignorance exist, are those
ancient relics of the secondary rocks known as
Belemnitcs, but among the masses better identi-
fied as " Thunder-bolts." It is amusing to read the
conjectures as to what these objects are, in the pre-
tentious woi"ks on natural history of a century ago,
when everything was supposed only to have a right
to exist in proportion as it was serviceable to man.
These Belemnites were then supposed to be whales'
and crocodiles' teeth, the spines of an extinct

hedgehog, &c. They were recommended, in a
powdered state, as a sure remedy against nicjlitmare !
To this day, in some parts'of England, they are pre-
served as an effectual antidote to witchcraft ! But by
far the most prevalent notion is that these fossils are
veritable "Thunder-bolts," audit is astonishing how
manypeople, otherwise well educated,will innocently
ask you whether such is their nature. The species
from the Lias formation are the largest, and in them
one sees the appropriateness of the name Belemnites,
from the Greek word signifying a dart ! (fig. 177).

Fig:. \".

Belem7tites hnstata, from

the Lias.

Fig:. 1-8.
J5. ptisosiiniux, from the Oolite,
showing upper portion.

Where the Liassic rocks have been broken up and
scattered during the Glacial period, as in the
boulder clays of Norfolk, these extraneous fossils
are tolerably common. Not long ago, during a
violent thunderstorm in that county, a bullock was
struck dead by lightning, and, on going to the
carcass shortly after, one of these large derivative
fossils was picked up close by where it was lying.
What could be a more effectual proof tiiat these
were genuine "thunder-bolls," for here was a
bullock struck dead daring the thunderstorm,
and there was tiie Belemnite? In vain did I
attempt to explain — my poor geology had evidently
turned my head, for I could not recognise a
"thunder-bolt" when I saw one !

These Belemnites, or "thunder-bolts," are in
reality the terminal bones of extinct species of

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

253

cuttle-fishes, of wliicli no fewer than a hundred dif-
ferent kinds arc known to geologists, from the Lias
to the Tertiary beds. Tiiey are not found in strata
of the latter age, their places being occuioied by
allied forms more nearly related to existing species.
Side by side with the coiled Ammonites, the Belem-
nites roamed the waters of the Oolitic and Greta'
ceous seas. Unfortunately, little more is usually
preserved than the " guards " — the solid parts of the
animal we call Belemnite. A few specimens which
have been unusually well preserved, however, give
us a clue to their structure. Thus, Belemnites
puzosiaiiv.s (flg. 17S) is one of these. The solid part,
which is so common amongst us, swelled out
into a thin investing, funnel-shaped cavity, in
which lay a series of walls, like those which sepa-
rate the chambers of a nautilus. An air-tube, or
siphaicle, ran down one side of these chamber-walls
and connected them together, exactly as a similar
air-tube connects the chambers of fossil and recent
species of nautilus. This pile of chamber walls was
conical, and is called the phragmacone. In fig. 179
a short thick species of Belemnite from tlie Oolite,
this phragmacone is seen imbedded in the guard.

Fig. 179. Belemniteis (ihhrpjniitns, showing phragmacone
111 guard, from Oolite.

Very frequently, however, especially in the species
so abundant in the chalk formation, this upper
portion of the Belemnite is hollow, owing to the
delicate nature of the chambers, and where the
Belemnite has been imbedded in flint nodules (as is
very often the case) the carbonate of lime structure
has been replaced, and this hollow filled up with
silex, as in fig. ISO, where the outlines of the original
chambers may still be seen. In this form they are
well known among the quarrymen and boys as
"pinnacles." The "guard" of the Belemnite, it will
be seen, corresponds to the "mucro" of the ordi-
nary cuttle-bone. The last chamber is rarely
preserved. It seems to have thinned off into a kind

of horny sheath, ^and was sufiiciently capacious to
contain the visceral organs. Over all there perhaps
was wrapped a leathery integument, binding
head, body, and bony "guard," or belemnite, to-
gether. These guards vary in appearance very
considerably, much of which may have been due to
the different stages of growth, or difference of sexes.
Sometimes it is scarcely an inch longer than the
phragmacone, and at others it may be ten inches.

m

'ii I Mill

Fig:. 180.
Cast of Phfdgtiiacnnp, showing Fig, 181. B. miirronutus,
chambers, from the chalk. from the chalk.

These ancient cuttle-fishes, or Belemnites, appear
to have swarmed the seas in perfect shoals, for frag-
ments of Liassic limestone may sometimes be seen
thickly entangled with them— to use a figure of
poor Hugh Miller's, — " as if a boarding party had
hastily thrown down their pikes ! " The shallower
parts of the sea seem to have been their favourite
haunts, and thus far they contrasted with the Am-
monites, which appear to have loved tlie deeper and
clearer water. The Belemnites were doubtless fur-
nished with "ink-bags," like their modern repre-
sentatives, and thus were enabled to cloud the
water with an inky discharge whenever danger
threatened. Specimens have been found in which
the "guard" had been broken during the lifetime
of the animal, and had been repaired by a new
growth. But the inexorable limits of space tell us
we have said enough to show that the Belemnites
have no affinity whatever with the hypothetical
" Thunder-bolts." J. E. Taylok.

NATURAL HISTORY FOR RUSTICS.

TENNYSON, with that prevision of a future
which is at least not destitute of possibility,
describes, in " Locksley Hall," how he beheld the
agonies and convulsions of nations in the coming
age, from w^hich was slowly eliminated the glories
of a time of unsurpassed prosperity. There was
conflict such as the world never, had seen, but it

254

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

was followed by repose yet more uuequalled. Tlie
firmament was astir at one time with—
" the nations' airy navies
Grappling in the central blue."

This was terrific and lamentable, yet there re-
sulted—

" the parliament of man,
The federation of the world."

Something like this is going ou in the lesser world
of education. We see engaged in dire battles the
" powers that be," and also the powers that " have
been," and those that hope " yet to be ;" every edu-
cationist's hand almost is against his fellow, and
the skirmishing is so fierce and so confused that the
combatants seem to shift their sides ; still, one is
tempted to believe that out of this crisis will flow
an educational era, which, in some degree, may
tend to bring about the poet's ideal.

Amongst the muLitude of subjects which will be
taught to children, when a national plan of educa-
tion is fairly set to work, we may suppose that
Natural History will be found to occupy the place
it deserves. That it uever has, as yet, been effec-
tively taught to the plastic mind of youth in Bri-
tain, either to lords or labourers in embryo, saving
in a few accidental instances, can hardly be denied.
The knowledge that has been drilled into children.
which professed to be natural history, has been
a knowledge of names rather than of things ; and as
repellent as catalogues of kings or geographical
lists, still the occasional pahulim of those unfortu-
nately placed in the hands of rigid adherents to
old methods and ideas. No ! let us have " natural
history" t&nghi naturallT/; let the pupil work from
the knowledge of things, of facts, to the book-lore
which names and classifies the objects observed,
and elucidates and connects the facts. Beginning
early, and working patiently, even amongst what
might seem the unhopeful element which a village
school ordinarily presents, a teacher being himself
or herself well informed as to the main outlines of
the different branches of natural history, would
achieve results which neither perseverance nor the
highest knowledge could bring about on the adult
mind. There, granting tliat a measure of informa-
tion on some other subjects has been imparted in
younger days, the faculty of obseiTation lies mostly
in a comatose state, past revival, and the habits
which have evolved themselves as the child became
the man are only adapted to the somewhat mono-
tonous round of rural life, as it presents itself to
the ordinary rustic, whose capacity may be so
easily gauged in most cases, and when we test it
(at least as far as natural history is concerned) we
find that it is as dijficult to awaken any liking for
it in Sam, who carries the squire's bag while he is
shooting partridges, as it is in the humbler Joe, who
has ploughed the fields over which the others
walk.

Not every one who can teach the rudiments of
ordinary school instruction would be able to impart
successfully a knowledge of natural history, sup-
posing that he had obtained it in mature years.
Let this be granted. To a great extent, the
"teachers" must be taught, and this will require
time and facilities which are not at present to be
had. But would it not be gladdening to the i)hi-
lanthropist, i.e. the " man-lover," to see that those
who have most to do with Nature, and have, very
frequently, opportunities of observing much that
the philosopher, coming forth only occasionally
from his chamber and his books, is likely to miss —
that they, like their father in Paradise, are begin-
ning to name the living creatures around them, and
have memories more intent on storing curious facts
which have been witnessed than the paltry details
of village scandal and spite? Nay, then, perhaps
to a great extent, shall the rabid " weekly," reeking
with police reports, and sedulous to excite discon-
tent and ill-feeling, be found to have been sup-
planted by Science-Gossip on the table of the
labourer or the mechanic, who will then prefer the
sweet breath of Nature to the fumes of the pot-
house. J. R. S. Clipfoed.

PROPOSED REMEDIES FOR THE POTATO
DISEASE.

By W. T. Thiselton Dyer, B.A., B.Sc, E.L.S.

TN the last number of Science-Gossip, Mr.
■^ Worthington Smith has given a very clear ac-
count of the results which up to the present time
have been obtained by the investigations of scien-
tific men in England, Erauce, and Germany as to
the nature of the potato disease. It will be seen
that it leaves very little more still to be worked
out ; it only remains to consider how far the facts
as now understood indicate any probability of some
effectual remedy, or, at any rate, plan of preven-
tion, beuig devised.

When the disease makes its appearance in a field
of potatoes, it seems probable that it originates, in
the first instance, at a comparatively small number
of centres, from resting spores contained in sets
which were infected when they were planted. The
Peroiiospora, under these circumstances, grows
in the tissues of the potato-plant from below up-
wards; and when it reaches the surface of the
foliage it finally develops, as explained ^ by
Mr. Worthington Smith, the motile zoospores by
which it is conveyed from one plant to another, till
the whole crop is finally more or less destroyed. It
is stated, on good authority, that in the neighbour-
hood of chemical works, potatoes escape with httle
or no disease. The reason is, no doubt, that the
chemical works pour into the air sulpliurous acid

h«U^)

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

235

gas, or some other gaseous impurity which is de-
structive to the PeroHospora when it first malces its
appearance at the surface of the infected plants,
and so stays its further progress. It is well
known that lowly-organized plants, such as minute
parasitic fungi, are destroyed by applications which,
in the case of flowering plants, have little or no
effect. Hence, by powdering vines infested with
vine-mildew with finely- divided sulphur, which
gives off very minute traces of sulphurous acid, -we
are able to check the mildew without injuring the
vine. But in the case of the potato disease, the
difficulty is to isolate the affected plants, so as to
prevent their zoospores being dispersed even while
they are undergoing treatment. Another difficulty is
the extreme rapidity with which the infection takes
place : the existence of the disease in any particular
case may not be observed till it has reached di-
mensions far beyond the application of remedial
measures. Under circumstances such as garden-
cultivation, however, where there is an opportunity
for closer observation, it would be quite worth
while, as recommended by Mr. Poynter, trying the
effect of the application of soot to the diseased
foliage immediately disease is detected.

It will be seen that in the plants which are
attacked secondarily the Perouospora progresses
from above downwards, which is precisely the
opposite of what occurs in those which are at-
tacked primarily. The tubers are consequently not
affected till after the haulm. Mr. Parfitt accord-
ingly recommended cutting off the diseased haulm,
and Mr. Newmareh, writing in the Times of Sep-
tember 2nd, states that he found Mr. Parfitt's plan
"perfectly successful in preventing the disease.
He describes accurately what I did. AVith a pair
of hand-shears I cut the tops completely off on the
first appearance of the disease, strewing earth over
the cut stem, and patting it down with a spade to
make it air-tight. In rows so treated I never found
a diseased potato ; but though I triumphed in
having beaten the disease, I regret to say that the
potatoes were utterly worthless except for seed, or
for those who do not mind waxy potatoes and
attendant indigestion. Still it is something to
secure one's seed for next year." Destroying the
haulm prevented the^ formation of starch in the
foliage, and subsequent storing-up, in the tubers ;
the remedy consequently is hardly better than the
disease, except in so far as it arrests its progress.

The Rev. Mr. Moule has started the theory tliat
the potato-plant succumbs to the attacks of the
Peronospora because it is already in an enfeebled
state, from the deficiency of silica in its tissues,
owing to the impoverishment with respect to that
constituent of the soil on which it is grown. He
therefore proposes to use a manure containing
water-glass (silicate of soda), which he hopes will
give the potato-plant greater vigour, and so enable

it to outgrow its parasite. Nothing is lost by
trying any proposal of this kind, but it is proper to
remark that Mr. Moule has not given any proof of
the deficiency of silica in the potato haulm ; and
there seems no reason to suppose that while cereals
can obtain from the same soil a much larger pro-
portion of silica than the potato-plant is ever likely
to contain, it will suffer from a deficient supply of
that element of its mineral food.

Attention has very reasonably been directed to
the inquiry whether it is possible to destroy the
resting spores of the Peronospora in the sets of the
potato before they are planted. The use of various
substances destructive to fungoid organisms has
been proposed ; but they all appear open to the ob-
jection that if they are made thoroughly to permeate
the tissues of the seed potato, they can hardly fail
to injure, or at the best enfeeble, the vitality of the
buds, or " eyes," as well. Merely to wash the out-
side can obviously do nothing towards destroying
resting spores, which may be safely out of reach in
the interior.

After reviewing all that has been said on the sub-
ject, the only direction in which there seems to be
any reasonable hope of relief from the injury and
anxiety produced by this constantly recurring
scourge, is in obtaining and cultivating early-matur-
ing kinds. August is the month in which the potato
disease seems to do its worst, especially if the wea-
ther be both wet and warm. If the crop can be
safely housed before this period, the evil will have
been evaded, if it cannot be cured. The production
of early kinds is, with the skill and patience which
cultivators bring to the systematic improvement of
the potato, only a question of time.

MICROSCOPY.

Wood Sections.— I think many cuttings with
low powers, and merely to show the general forma-
tion, are far better seen as opaque objects than as
transparent ones. Some look very beautiful in this
way, and more natural ; besides, the colour is seen.
Nettle root, apple ditto, and clematis canes, are
amongst some which are well worth looking at.
They must be thin, but not so thin as if used as
transparent objects. — B. T. Scott.

Hot Water Diatoms.— Dr. Blake has collected
more than fifty species of diatoms in a hot spring
in Pueblo Valley, Nevada, the temperature of
which was 163° P. Nearly all were found identical
with the species found in beds of infusorial earth
in Utah, described by Ehrenberg, showing that the
latter must have been accumulated in a hot lake.
No other living species were found in the hot
water except red algaj. The deposit was a large
one, and contained concretions of silica, the
greater part of which was made up of petrified

256

HAilDWlCKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

algse. In one of the hot springs of the Californian
Geysers, Dr, Blake also found two species of
confervse, at a temperature of 198° P. In another
spring, at a temperature of I7'ii° P., he met with
various Oscillarife, the interlacement of whose
fibres formed a semi-gelatinous mass. Two species
of diatoms were also found in the same place. In
the water of the Creek of Geyser Canon, at a
temperature of 112°, the algse formed layers three
inches thick, which covered the bottoms of the
pools. The waters are acidulated by the presence
of free sulphuric acid, and Dr. Blake thinks that
this may account for the rarity of diatoms.

Preparing Slides. — For the benefit of your
numerous readers who desire to become acquainted
with a clean, ready, and easy method of preparing
slides, applicableto fresh cuticles, insects, c%c., where
heat (as in the case of Canada balsam) is quite inad-
missible, I 'beg to forward you the formula for a
medium, discovered and used by myself with great
success. Take of clear Dammar resin five drachms ;
benzine, one fluid ounce. Dissolve without heat.
Modus operandi : — Place a drop on the slide, put
the object upon it, let fall another drop upon the
object, and apply the cover. The fluid that escapes,
on pressing down, when pressure is necessary, will
speedily harden, and the object may be at once
examined in any position. In the course of ten
days it may be cleaned and placed in the cabinet.
Objects prepared for the polariscope are especially
brilliant in this medium. An additional advantage
possessed by it is, the trifling expense incurred in
its preparation. — Saml. Smith.

A Singular Botifee.. — In tlie last number of
the Quarterly Jotirnal of Microscopical Science,
Dr. Hudson makes known a rotifer, under the name
of Pedalion mira, having six large appendages like
the limbs of a crustacean, terminating in plumose
hairs, and worked as locomotive organs by trans-
versely striped muscles attached inside the appen-
dages, which are therefore hollow, and identical
in type with the limbs of insects and Crustacea.
At the same time, the animal possesses a fine
ciliated trochal disc, and a gizzard similar to that
of other rotifers. Specimens had been supplied
to t!ie editor; who confirms the statements of
Dr. Hudson in every particular.

On the Microscopic Preparation of Insects'
Eyes. — Good preparations which shall demonstrate
clearly the structure of insects' eyes are very much
wanted in this country, and, as far as I know,
almost impossible to obtain ; yet such are com-
paratively easy toprepare, and, when well made,form
objects not only admirable for class demonstration,
but are extremely beautiful in themselves. The
eye of a large Sphinx moth is most easily prepared;
best of all, that of Acherontia atropos ; but Sphinx
Ucjustri will do very well. The moth should be

killed and the head placed immediately in absolute
alcohol. After it has been in alcohol about a week,
it should be taken out, imbedded in a mixture of
wax and oil, which should be rather hard, in order
to offer plenty of resistance to displacement when
the glutinous parts are cut through. The sections
should be floated on to slides stained with car-
mine, heated with absolute alcohol oil of cloves,
and mounted in Dammar varnish or Canada balsam.
The great thing is to use plenty of absolute alcohol
and a thin-edged, hollowed-out razor. If the heads
of smaller moths be used, sections very instructive
may be prepared, passing through both eyes and
the cephalic ganglia. Preparations of the eyes of
mollusca, leeches, &c., may be prepared in tiie same
way as those of insects, from specimens hardened
in the same manner in absolute alchohol. — //. N.
Moseley, M.A., in Quarterly Microscopic Journal.

Microscopical Troughs. — Many microscopists
have, no doubt, felt the want of a small trough for
use with powers of —o or \. I have constructed
and used for some two years the one of which I
inclose a drawing, and find even a fifth can be
used with it, there being no thick glass to obscure
the definition of the objective. Should any of your
readers not be able to make this themselves, I have
given Mr. Crouch a drawing of it, who will, no
doubt, be glad to supply them. An ordinary glass

Fig. 182. Microscopical Trough.

slide with half-circle cut out, and thin glass ce-
mented on back and front, either of a semicii-cular
shape, as dotted lines at B, or of an oblong form
as C ; or the lower thin glass can be made of length
of slide, insuring a true level, as at D.— /. IF.
Meachen.

Auditory Capsules op Mollusca.— Mr. Fulla-
gar, at a meeting of the East Kent Natural History
Socict}', called the attention of the members to a
very beautiful aud interesting object, viz., — the
auditory vesicle and its vibrating otolith of Cyclas
cornea. Tliis beautiful object is very easily found.
Mr. Eullagar, after two or three trials, by tearing
asunder witii needles portions near the base of the
creature's foot, succeeded in showing the vesicle
and otolith, much to the admiration of the meeting.

Vertebrate Blood Corpuscles. — A number of
models have been prepared by Ilerr J. Klautsch,
assistant in the Anatomical Institute of Halle,
illustrating the relative dimensions of the red
corpuscle in various vertebrata. All the models arc

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE-GO S SIP.

257

prepared to tlie same scale, viz., five thousand times
the natural size. The animals represented are, —
musk deer, goat, llama, man, ohalHncli, lizard, frog,
proteus, and tench. The price of the set, iu cascj
is six ihalers.

New Navicula.— The Kev. E. O'Meara exhi-
bited, at the monthly meeting of the Dublin Micro-
scopical Club, the following new Navicula : — N.
diciirvata, N. vertebrata, and N. Mooreana.

ZOOLOGY.

Zoological Parallelism. — In making a general
survey of the animal kingdom, it is impossible to
avoid being struck by the remarkable parallelism
which exists between the several orders and families,
and even genera and species, that compose the
respective classes into which it is divided, and which
reveals itself iu the representative types that abound
throughout its whole extent. Thus if we take the
mammalia as our starting-point, we shall find that
the carnivora are represented among the birds by
the raptores ; among the reptiles by the crocodiles
and serpents; among the insects by the predaceous
beetles, ichneumons, and dragon-flies; among the
aimulosa by the spiders, crabs, lobsters, &c.; among
the mollusks by the cuttle-fish and by some of the
gastropods and a few brachiopods ; and among the
radiates by the sea-urchins,'star-fish, sea-anemones,
&c. Confining our observation to the parallelism
between the mammalia and the birds on the one
hand, and the insects on the other, we find that the
carnivorous mammals are well represented among
the Coleoptera as follows : The Pelida3, the typical
carnivora, by the Cicindelidse, whose resemblance
is acknowledged in their vernacular name of " tiger-
beetles." The Cauidse — dogs, wolves, foxes — are
fitly represented by the Carabidse ; the weasel tribe
by the Staphylinidaj ; and the hysenas and vultures
by the Silphidai ; while the marine carnivora, the
seals and whales, find their representatives in the
Dytiscida; and Hydroida;; and the various species
of raptorial birds are no less fittingly typified by the
Libellulidaj — iclmeumou-flies, sphexes, and the pre-
daceous wasps and hornets ; not forgetting the ants,
w hich have a highly-developed carnivorous organiza-
tion. We need not follow out in detail the obvious
resemblances that may be observed between the
pachydermatous animals and the Lucanidte and
other dendrophagous insects, as well as between the
bovine, equine, and ovine tribes, and the gallina-
ceous and cursorial birds on the one hand, and part
of the Scarabeidaj and Chrysomelidte, and most of
the Orthoptera on the other ; or those not less re-
markable that exist between the goat, deer, and
antelope families, and the Cerambyx, Clytus, and
Leptura genera. — Prof. J. T.Bell, hi "Canadian
Entomologist."

PiiospuoE-ESCENCK. — Dr. T. L. Phipson has
given the name of Noctilucine to the peculiar organic
substance which is manifested in the phosphores"
cence of sea-water. This, he thinks, is also the
cause of tlie production of light by the glow-worm,
and probably of all phosphorescent animals.

Insects and Plants.— At the meeting of the
American Association for the Advancement of
Science, recently held at Dubuque, Iowa, a very
interesting^ paper was read by Mr. C. V. Riley, of
St. Louis, entitled " Insects shaped by the Needs
of Flowers," with especial reference to the fructifi-
cation of the American Yuccas. Dr. Engleman, of
St. Louis, had this year discovered that these plants
must need rely on some artificial agency for fer-
tilization. The flowers are peculiarly constructed,
so that it is impossible for the pollen to reach the
stigma, it being glutinous and expelled from the
anthers before the blossoms open. Professor Riley
discovered that there was a small white moth that
did the work, and demonstrated on the blackboard
how wonderfully well the insect was adapted to the
purpose. This little moth, which lie calls Promtba
Yuecasella, has been unknown to entomologists, and
forms the type of a new genus. It is most anoma-
lous, from the fact that the female only has the basal
joint of the maxillary palpus wonderfully modified
into a long prehensile-spined tentacle. With this
tentacle she collects the pollen and thrusts it into
the stigmatic tube, and after having thus fertilized
the flower, she consigns a few eggs to the young
fruit, the seeds of which her larvae feed upon. He
stated that the Yucca was the only entomopliilous
plant known which absolutely depended for fer-
tilization on a single species of insect, and that in-
sect so remarkably modified for the purpose. There
was a beautiful adaptation of [means to an end, and
a mutual interdependence between the plant and
animal ; and Mr. Riley explained how on Darwinian
grounds even this perfect adaptation was doubtless
brought about by slow degrees. He alluded, in
closing, to a practical phase of the subject. The
plant and its fructifier are inseparable under na-
tural conditions, and the latter occurs throughout
the native home of the former. In the more northern
portions of the United States, and in Europe, where
our Yuccas have been introduced and are cultivated
for their showy blossoms, the insect does not exist,
and consequently the Yuccas never produce seed
there. The larva of Pronnba eats through the
Yucca capsule in which it fed, enters the ground,
and hybernates there in an oval 'silken cocoon. In
this stage the insect may easily be sent by mail
from one part of the world to another, and our
Transatlantic florists may, by introducing it, soon
have the satisfaction of seeing their American Yuc-
cas produce seed without any personal effort on
their part.

258

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

The Golden Eagle {Aquila chri/sdetos).— Ac-
cording to the Hants Advertiser of September 25tli,
a specimen of this bird was shot at Bowcombe, in
the Isle of Wight, in the second week of September,
The bird, which had been noticed several times in
the locality, was a fine specimen, in good flesh, but
was moulting. Outstretched it measured between
seven and eight feet from point to point of the
"wings, and was 3 feet 1 inch long, and weighed lOi lb.

The Eeench Association eok the Advance-
ment OF Science. — The first meeting of the above
association, closely modelled after that of Britain,
was held at Bordeaux, from the 5th to the 12th of
September, and seems to have been successful and
satisfactory. The citizens of Bordeaux lavished
their hospitality upon the members, who well de-
served this for inaugurating a movement to spread
among that nation a knowledge of and love for
science, and thus inform and temper their often
misleading enthusiasm ; iu the words of M. Quatre-
fages, " to renovate our country by the scientific
spirit and scientific studies." The meetings were
well attended, both by French and foreign savans,
though the only two English ones were Professor
Odiing and Dr. Gladstone. The Society already
numbers SOO members, and its finances are in a
flourishing condition. The first general meeting
was presided over by M. de Quatrefages (the
president-elect for next year), in room of M. Claude
Bernard, the state of whose health prevented him
from attending. The opening address of M. de
Quatrefages, as acting president, was a very stirring
and noble one, full of sound sense as to the recent
humiliation and present condition of Prance, en-
thusiasm towards science, and faith in it as one of
the most powerful regenerators of the country.
" Science is at present supreme," he said ; " she is
becoming more and more the sovei'cign of the
world ; " and he believes that it is only when all
ranks and classes of the people, rulers and ruled,
are thoroughly imbued with the scientific spirit, and
are guided by scientific knowledge, that Prance will
ever again take and maintain the supreme place in
the world which she ought to hold. M. de Quatre-
fages concluded with a graceful allusion to "our
elder sister, the British Association."

New Entomological Society.— The entomo-
logists in the neighbourhood of Kensington are
zealously endeavouring to form an Entomological
Society for that end of Loudon. All entomologists
desirous of joining or co-operating are requested to
address themselves to Mr. W. Wells, 12, Phillimore
Terrace, Kensington.

The Smooth Snake {Coronella la;vis).— K?,l am
the person refen-ed to in the letter from W. T. P.
W. (p. 239) in your last number, I may mention for
his satisfaction that no search has been or is being

made for specimens of this reptile in this locality.
All the captures I have mentioned in the Zoologist
have been quite casual. It is, however, quite likely
that the rapid spread of buildings in this neigh-
bourhood may drive this snake away from Bourne-
mouth as a habitat. In reply to W. G. (same page) ,
he will find a full and excellent description of this
snake, together with its various synonyms, in
Cooke's "British Reptiles" (Hardwicke), an invalu-
able little work in that branch of natural history;
The description extracted by Pred. P. Warner
(p. 232) is rather vague as to points of difference
beween this snake and the other two British snakes,
and omits, especially, one striking difference ; viz.
the perfect smoothness of all the scales as opposed to
the carina, or keel, in all the vipers' scales, and the
carination of part of those of the ringed snake.
Any one who has been accustomed to seeing the
smooth snake Tvould recognize one at a glance, and
would not for one instant confound it (I speak of
adult specimens) with either of the others ; the
markings and conformation of the head being very
distinct. I have received a second specimen this
summer, taken between this place and Christ-
church. — U. B. Kemp Welch.

BOTANY.

Singular Scabious. — A short time back I found
at Polkestone a singular specimen of ScaLiosa
columbaria, a plant very abundant there, nearly all
with single stems, but a few branched, generally
about eight inches high. The one iu question was
fourteen inches, having the ordinary single sessile
head at the top, immediately beneath which, and
apparently springing out from the bottom or root
of the head of flowers, were no less than sixteen
other single heads of flowers on stalks three inches
and a half long, forming, in fact, a pertect umbel,
two of the stalks having each a small head of
flowers nearly sessile from about the centre of the
stalks. The single head was in fruit, while of all
the other heads some were in flower, others not
quite so much advanced. Six of the stalks had
each two short linear sharp-pointed leaves from a
little above the centre of the stalk. Wit,h the plant
grew another the same height, and apparently from
the same root, with the ordinary head of flowers in
fruit. Polkestone is an interesting spot for the
botanist ; within a short walk may be found a great
variety of plants. The greater part are found close
to the walk by the fields between the third Mar-
tello tower and the turnpike on the Dover road,
and a place called the Warren, close by. At Brighton
I last year found three plants of Centaurea solsti-
clalis, also a plant that I believed to be Cachris
Icevigata ; it was sent to Professor Babiugton to
decide, but after pronouncing it to be a continental

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

259

plant, and obtaining all particulars as to soil,
locality, &c., he took no further notice of it, except
that he had lost ii.—T. B. W.

Potato Disease. — Mr. W. G. Smith, in his
paper in Science-Gossip last month, mentions
sulphur as a remedy. Last year the disease showed
itself about here, and I sprinkled sulphur over the
potatoes which were goinpr, and it certainly did
them good. The fungus on the leaves at once dried
up ; but then the difficulty is, when the wind and
rain have cleared the sulphur away, to prevent the
disease reappearing. I use a solution of sulphuret
of .lime for my vines, and it keeps them ]3erfectly
free from mildew ; and so I tried syringing the
potatoes with it, as the two diseases seem some-
what alike. I am afraid the use of it was delayed
too long; but I do not see why it should prove
efficacious in one case and not in the other, if it is
used soon enough ; and the disease really takes its
origin from above downwards, and not from the
root upward. I always, when I plant, put sand
round the potatoes. It is very seldom I have had
many diseased, and I may say that it has only
shown itself in those potatoes which, when grown,
were not amongst the sand. This held good this
sadly unhealthy year. — E. T. Scott, Norwich.

Epipactis latipolia. — The above fine plant,
along with E. purpurata (E. ovalis ?) and Listera
ovata, have recently shown themselves in the
gardens of Chace Cottage, Enfield.

Epipactis palustris. — Last month a new station
was discovered for the rare orchid Epipactis
palustris. It grows in the county of Surrey,
between Mortlake and Kew. It is strange that so
rare, and conspicuous a plant should have been so
long undetected in a place traversed by scores of
botanists every summer. — Al. I., 2S, UpjKr Manor
Street, Chelsea.

Bee axb Ely Okchis {0. apifera and musci-
ferd). — Within a few miles of Alresford, both these
plants may be met with in tolerable abundance. I
have hitherto preserved them from the ravages of
the spoiler by wisely keeping secret the spots where
they are to be found. — Joseph Anderson, juii.

Vegetable Haiks. — I have sent a leaf or two
of a dry Myosotis arvensis, I think, the hairs of
which are peculiar, and form an interesting opaque
object, which I have not seen described in any work.
The hair springs from a bulb, and is surrounded at
the base by nine or twelve or more little round
balls, which in a good light look like small pearls.
—E. T. Scott.

" Peloria," ok Plant-monstrosity. — Peloria
is especially interesting, physiologically as well as
morphologically. It is also of value in a systematic

point of view, as showing how closely the devia-
tions from the ordinary form of one plant repre-
sent the ordinary condition of another. Thus,
the peloric Calceolarias resemble the flowers of
Fabiana; and De CandoUe, comparing the peloric
flowers of Scrophulariace(S with those of Solanacece,
concluded that the former natural order was only
an habitual alteration from the type of the latter.
Peloric flowers of Papilionaeea in this way are
indistinguishable from those of Rosacece. In like
manner we may trace an analogy between the
normal one-spurred Delphinium, and the five-spurred
Columbine {Aquilegia), an analogy strengthened by
such a case as that of the five-spurred flower of
Delphinium elatum described by Godron. — Masters' s
" Teratology:'

A Botanical Difficulty. — " E. R. H.'s "
botanical difficulty is simply owing to the fact that
Cannabinacece and Urticacece, or the Hemp and
Nettle families (to which may be added Moracece,
or the Fig family), are closely allied natural orders ;
by some botanists combined under Urticacece, as
one order with sub-orders; by others separated
into three orders. This accounts for the apparent
discrepancy in the assigned position of Humulus
lupulus. — G. S. P. P.

The Hxjmulus.— "E. R. H." asks to what
natural order Humulus lupulus and Cannabis sativus
belong. I have examined the plants, and find that,
in the two above mentioned, the ovule is pendulous
and the embryo hooked and without albumen, while
in Urticacece the ovule is erect, and the embryo
albuminous and straight. By some authors this is
not thought of sufficient importance to separate the
order from Urticacece. It is one of the smallest
families, comprising only the two above mentioned,
but at the same time one of the most valuable. I
think that "E. Pi. H." will be right if he makes a
separate order of them, for, though the difference
does not appear great, it is really so. — Thomas B.
Blow.

Eloka of Liverpool. — In our notice of this
creditable production of the Liverpool Naturalists'
Eield Club, we unwittingly gave all the credit to
the workers of the last generation. This was
entirely due to the modesty of the members, and
it is therefore with sincere pleasure we give the
names of the most active living workers, some of
which will not be strange to our readers. Amongst
them are the Rev. H. H. Higgins (president),
Messrs. H. S. Eisher, J. Harbord Lewis, E. P.
Marral, Heywood Chapman, Robert Brown, Thos.
Williams (Ormskirk), E. M. Webb, and Thomas
Gibson, as well as those of Mrs. E. Boult and Miss
C. Grundy ; all of whom have indefatigably and
successfully Idboured in producing what we hold to
be a model local flora.

SCO

HARDWICKE'S S CI E N C E- GOSSIP.

GEOLOGY.

The Pacific Deep Sea Exploration.— The
latest despatch from Professor Agassiz to Professor
Pierce, of the United States Coast Survey, is of
great scientific interest. It was written on the
voyage from Panama to Acapulco, and records the
impressions of the author gathered on the Pacific
coast, and during a land journey of nearly 300
miles in the Valley of Chilian, between the coast
range and the Audian chain from Concepcion, at the
mouth of the river Bio Bio, northward to the
capital of Chile. Tliis valley, which, commencing
at the Gulf of Ancud, extends over 1,500 miles
to the north, he finds to be the bed of a vast
glacier, whose ice-slide to the north has ground and
polished the rocks of its east and west boundaries,
the Andes, and the coast-range, so that while they
stand they will tell to students the history of one of
those wonderful changes which have marked and
shaped the earth's surface. At one point, a little
south of Santiago, he finds the track of a more
recent glacier which, moving laterally from the
Andes towards the west, across the drift of the
great glacier, has left in its course volcanic boulders
in the direction of the coast-range, which stayed its
progress. A gradual recession of the ice boundary
towards the South Pole, which was accompanied
■with an ascending temperature, was followed by the
formation of successive lakes, whose deposits now
form a series of terraces of various levels through
the whole length of this interesting valley. An ex-
amination of the group of islands called the Gala-
pagos has afforded an opportunity for a study
of the land. This archipelago, situated near the
equator, 700 miles west of the coast of Ecuador,
is evidently of recent volcanic origin. The
animals and plants are some of them of types found
nowhere else on the known globe, and naturally
seem special creations for that locality, or strange
instances of the almost creative power of trans-
formation in nature. Evidently the professor in-
clines to think there has been a direct creation
of organized beings for those distant new islands in
the wide Pacific, and he confesses that as yet
science is unable to answer questions of the origin
of organized beings. Small difference is noted in
the vegetable products of the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts in the neighbourhood of Panama, but in
marine animals a decided variation was discovered,
while all classes of animal life on both sides bear
decided American characteristics. During the long
and busy voyage, the party of which A gassiz is the
chief have made careful observations of a large class
of subjects, and accumulated such a store of speci-
mens as will, in his able hands, make most valuable
additions to our knowledge in the sciences of
geology and zoology. The exploring party have ob-

tained large numbers of specimens of plants and
animals; and Professor Agassiz has already sent
home 137 barrels, boxes, and cases filled with spe-
cimens.

Geology of Noktu Hampshire. — A capitally-
written paper on this subject, by Dr. Joseph
Stevens, appears in the " Transactions of the New-
bury District Field-Club," which, by the way, has
got up its little volume in a most commendable
manner. Dr. Stevens's paper includes the ex-
tension of the chalk, with an enumeration of its
fossils, and, what is still more valuable, a gopd de-
scription of the drift strata, and of the formation of
" Pot-holes," &c. The valley gravels occupy a pro-
minent place, as might be expected from so ardent
an implement-hunter as the author, whose paper on
the " Flint Works at Cissbury," extracted from the
Sussex Arclipeological Society's Collection, just
published, will not fail to impress archffiologists in
favour of Dr. Stevens's knowledge of his subject.

Kew Dendkoid Graptolite. — Mr. John Hop-
kinson, F.G.S., has just described a new Dendroid
Graptolite, from the Arenig rocks, Kamsey Island,
South Wales, under the name of Callojniptus radi-
c'ans. He thinks this group may have attached them-
selves to other objects, whereas the true graptolites
(grouped by Professor Allmann as Rhabdophord)
were free. The former, therefore, more nearly re-
sembled the recent sertularians, not only in their
mode of growth, but also in their general form, and
even in their structure.

Coal. — In a paper read before the American
Association for the Advancement of Science, by
Professor Andrews, he stated there were three
leading varieties of bituminous coal, — the ordinary
resinous or caking coal, the splint, and the cannel
coal. These pass into each other by almost imper-
ceptible gradations. The resinous coal seems to be
the normal condition which the buried vegetation
first assumes ; the splint and cannel are modified
forms, the cannel coal having lost all trace of struc-
ture, and containing no organized forms except
Stigmarla, which is very abundant. The ash of
coals is the original inorganic matter of vegetation,
often increased by sedimentary matter in the marsh
during the formation of coal.

A New xiiiACiiNit). — Mr, Henry Woodward, of
the British Museum, has given a description of a
new species of arachnid, which he names ArchiUtrbus
snbovcdis, from the ironstone nodules of the Lanca-
shire coal-measures. It is remarkable on account
of its close relationship to a North American fossil
species. One cannot but note how many of the
old forms from the carboniferous formation of
North America are common in the same strata in
England, under similar conditions of fossilization.

HARDWICKE'S S CI EN C E- GO S S IP.

261

NOTES AND aUERIES.

How TO Cleau a Pond.— H. B. Rutt won't, find
his fish so healthy if he were to get rid of the
vegetation. Tiie best way to keep it down is to
pnt a number of water snails into the pond,
and draw the superfluous vegetation out with a fine
hand net or rake, or something of the kind. At
least, I find this the best way.— £". T. Scott.

The Coloxjks of LspiDorTERA, pp. 175, 237.—
Mr. Lefroy seems somewhat to have misunderstood
the paragraph to which he refers. I did not say the
"metallic lustre" of the Papilimiida? was owing to
scales of different shades being placed transversely;
but tiiat possibly this might be the cause of that " re-
markable change of colour" which many exotic
specimens exhibit when held in certain lights or
positions,— a supposition which examination, how-
ever, with the microscope does not substantiate.
The question is an interesting one. Perhaps some
of the readers of Science-Gossip may be able to
account for this burnished appearance, and the
change of colour ?Lho.— Joseph Anderson, Jmr.

How does the Spider weave its WuBp-^In
a recent number, I was much interested by readiu?
an article on the Wood Spider and its habits, and
it occurred to me that some of your readers might
be able to answer me a question which has long
puzzled me, and which remains a mystery to nie
still. I will first describe wliat I saw, and then
ask the question. Two or three years ago, I was
walking by the side of a small mill-stream, when my
attention was arrested by a very large spider's web
stretching across the stream from bank to bank,
and attached to the stems of grass and other herb-
age. The stream was not less than three feet in
width, and the web itself would not be less than
four, by six feet in length. The web itself was
constructed on the mathematical principle, and
resembled a cart-wheel in general outline, a number
of diverging spokes proceeding from a central point
or nave, and these spokes were united by concentric
circles of threads about a quarter of an inch apart,
over the whole structure. The domicile of the
spider was exactly in the centre of the web and
over the middle of the stream, and, when I saw it,
the spider was hanging by a thread about a foot
from the running stream. The^ spider itself was
about the size of a dried marrow-fat pea of the same
colour. Now this remarkable sight excited my
wonder and curiosity to comprehend how an aninial
that, neither flies, leaps, nor swims, could accomplish
such a feat, and I am still in the dark as to its mode
of operation in making its web. — (?. C.

The Squirrel. — I little thought the storm
growing out of a mild effort to stay hasty judgment
against our little red squirrel could have echoed a
murmur across the Atlantic ; our cousin, however,
will, I trust, excuse me if I doubt the cogency of
his evidence. He has never seen, it appears, the
little animal in dispute in its native haunts : his
observations refer to the grey squirrel, a much
larger, and, it would seem, bolder creature, —
altogether a different species; and unless we are
prepared to accept the Darwinian doctrine, the
two can have no common blood in their veins. But
they are classed together as squirrels ? and analogy
should go for something? AVell, but. until of late
years, men and bats were so classed : Homo sapiens.
Homo vespertilio. Will analogy help the hope that

\ men may and will, so soon as the necessity is urgent
I enouf^h, adopt the charming mode of locomotion of
I the bat. Elongate their fingers to some ten feet, and
' grow a web between them, and it is done. Mr.
Abbot calls my attention to p. 237, Science-Gossip,
1871, for the purpose of proving that our squirrel
should be a match for the pheasant, because his
" grey chap " (about the size of a half-grown rabbit)
could " bamfoozle" (whatever that may mean) our
"pheasant, provided the nest of the bird was in a
tree, and on branches that would give the nimble-
footed fellow any chance at all to hold on," As,
however, our pheasants do not make nests in the
branches of trees, I need not trouble you, sir, with
any remark upon an event which, in the present
state of things, is impossible. I must now bid fare-
well to our ruddy little friend, only hoping that,
wherever the adroitness of his movements may
admit of a doubt whether the suspected &^g he is
carrying may not be a walnut or a chestnut, he may
Lave the benefit of it. — George Cox.

Ants. — I have noticed that several of your cor-
respondents have asked for a way to get rid of ants.
When in the north of Italy last winter, I noticed
one morning that there were a great number of
very large ants on the floor of my bedroom, which
was on the ground floor. I at once spoke to the
proprietor oi^ the hotel about them, and he said he
would very soon get rid of them. We found the
nest, which was just outside, and he poured about
half a pint of petroleum and water in equal quan-
tities into it, and he said I should be troubled no
more, for the ants would never go back to the nest.
In an hour or two there was not even a stray ant
to be seen ; and although I remained at the hotel
for more than a month, I never saw an ant either
enter or leave the nest again. Should any of your
correspondents try this method, perhaps they will
let you know with what result, a mouth or two
hence. 1 have no opportunity of trying it myself,
as I am not at all troubled with ants in my garden.
—C. E. H.

Abundance of the Large Heath Butter-
fly.— In a bad butterfly year like the present, it is
agreeable to see even a common species in full force
on the wing; and I am glad to record that the
Large Heath {Ephinephile tithonus) is as plentiful
as usual in Kent and Surrey, though rather later
than its average in appearing. This is a remarkably
tame species, and when fluttering about the bramble
bushes, it may easily be caught with tiie hand. The
Large Heath has a habit, like some of the skippers,
of turning half round after it has alighted upon a
leaf.— J. R. S. C.

The Cuckoo in October.— On the 3rd of
October,- — a day to be remembered in many places
by reason of severe hail-storms, thunder, and
lightning, — I observed a cuckoo flying into a wood,
and it struck me as being very singular to see this
visitor so late in the season. I should imagine that
the bird does not intend to migrate. Does this
denote a mild winter ? — Fred. Anderson.

Keeping Chrysalids. — In reply to a query by
"Mabel Green," as to keeping Chrysalids, I have
found the following a good plan : — Procure a strong
wooden box, — a convenient size is about 18 inches
square ; screw two pieces of wood 2 inches wide
on the inside of the lid, across the grain, cut out
part of the wood between them, and replace with
perforated zinc on strong gauze. Fill the box to a
depth of 6 inches, as you would a feru-Gase— viz..

262

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

about li inch of hroken pottery and coarse
gravel, the rest with light soil and sand mixed, say
two of the former to one of the latter. On the top
of the earth place a layer of moss which has been
carefully looked over and cleansed of all insects
(this may be done by boiling water). The larva)
should be put in this receptacle when full fed ; a
sprig of the food plant can be put in with them, in-
serted in a small bottle of water; they will then
bury in the earth or spin up amongst the moss.
Chrysalids obtained by " digging " may be put in,
aud lightly covered up with enrth and moss. The
box may be kept indoors or out, or, what is best,
in a greenhouse; but it must uot be exposed to
much sun, and should be sheltered from an excess
of snow and I'ain, if out of doors. Now comes an
important question : some people object to damping
their pupa?, but my experience is the other way,
and I recommend watering the top of the moss
with a fine-rosed watering-pot about once a week ;
the moss will hold the water and create sufficient
moisture to dampen the earth, and the coarse
material at the bottom will insure any excess of
moisture draining off. If any mould be observed,
it will be due to flies, dead pupaj, or larvae, which
should be carefully removed. Of course, great
judgment must be used in damping. It is well to
examine the earth before watering; it should never
be allowed to become dry and caked, or, on the
other hand, to be wet. It is a good plan to rear all
larvae in a cage of this description, using small
bottles for the food plants; the cover may then be
made arched, or gabled, by means of splints covered
with strong gauze. (The jam-pots can still be used
for very young larvse.) It will, however, be neces-
sary to remove carefully from time to time anything
likely to engender mould. I can recommend the
above as a simple, economical, and successful
" breeding-cage." Of course, various improve-
ments may suggest themselves, in the shape of side
openings or doors, but they all entail expense, and
are conveniences rather than necessaries. I should
be glad to know the experience of other entomolo-
gists on this subject. — H. Miller, Ipstcich.

Chrysalids. — In answer to your correspondent
Mabel Green, I beg leave to inform her that for
three years 1 have used a mixture of cocoa-nut
fibre and silver sand iu which to keep my chry-
salides. I find it vastly superior to mould, moss,
&c., as it retains its moisture longer. When the
caterpillar is about to change, I place it in a covered
box containing some fibre and sand, sliglitly mois-
tened. It will almost immediately retire below the
surface, and there change.— T, W. Harris, Junr.

Keeping CATERriLLA.Ks. — In reply to query on
this subject (p. 237), I strongly advise Miss Mabel
Green to procure the Rev. J. Greene's " Insect
Hunters' Companion" (Van Voorst), second editiou,_
which is an exhaustive manual on the subject of
collecting and rearing from the egg to the imago.
It would be impossible to give, in one short para-
graph, advice applicable to the rearing of all larvae,
as different species require different treatment. —
E. B. Kemp Welch, Bour?iemouth.

Caterpillars. — The following might be of
nterest to your readers. I put a caterpillar into a
tin coleoptcra box lined with cork. On opening the
box a day or so afterwards, instead of the cater-
pillar there was on one side a little heap of cork
thrown up. I let it remain thus for some time, and
the other day cut round the edge of the oval mound

with a penknife. The cork had been completely
eaten out by the caterpillar, and over the hole it
formed a perfect shell or cocoon, to protect the
chrysalis; which at present lies in the dormant
state.— /F. S. Palmer.

DocKt\NETTLE.— Inreplyto "G.H.H." (p. 238),
I shall probably form one of a numerous batch
of respondents ; hut I can certainly testify from long
experience to the fact that the juice of the dock,
if applied while the sting is recent, immediately
allays the irritation. In fact, when nettle-stung, I
invariably look for a dock, as I suffer more from
irritation thereafter than most people, and have
never failed to find relief from the application. I
imagine the r/ioclus operandi to be chemical ; the
result of the oxalate of potass in the dock reacting
on the poison in the nettle hairs. In connection
with this subject, it may be worth mentioning to
any of your readers who suffer from the hairs of
urticaling caterpillars, that sweet oil rubbed in
affords immediate relief.— B. B. Kemp Welch,
Bournemouth.

Dock v. Nettle.— In reply to "G. H. H.," I
think there is little doubt as to the efficacy of the
juice of the dock in soothing pain caused by the
sting of a nettle, the poison of the sting being
alkaline, and the juice an acid. It is a singular fact
in nature, that the property of the poison of the
sting of a bee or wasp is antidotal to that of the
nettle, and vice verm, the poison of the sting of the
former being an acid. — Jas. Pearson.

h Nest in a Chignon. — The other day I ob-
served a curious object in a hedge, and on close in-
spection found it to be the nest of a field-mouse,
comfortably inclosed in the remains of what had
once been a very fair head of hair, with the flax
stuffing to denote its former use. I thought the
ladies might be interested to learn that even a dis-
carded chignon does uot cease to be of use. — W.
H. Crawley.

Phosphorescence. — On Priday evening, August
30t.h, we witnessed a very curious phenomenon.
Between 9 and 10 o'clock we started for a walk
along the sands between Towyn and Aberdovey, on
the coast of Merionethshire. The two places are
distant about fourmiles, and along the whole space
between them is a broad expanse of beautifully
smooth and hard sand. The night was dark, and
there was a good breeze blowing from the sea (the
west). Soon after starting, one of our number
noticed what were for the moment considered to be
sparks of fire in the sand ; but a closer examination
showed that at every step we took, the sand
around the foot became suddenly illuminated with
a phosphorescent light just at the moment the foot
was planted on the sand, but in almost every in-
stance the light faded away immediately the pres-
sure was removed. The tide had turned about two
hours and a half, but we noticed the phosphores-
cence for the whole distance from high-water mark
down to the edge of the sea. On bending down to
look closely at the sand, the light appeared to be
produced by innumerable little luminous specks.
Where the sand was covered with a layer of water,
we noticed this luminosity, as well as where it
was comparatively dry. In some places, the light
appeared to a distance of twelve or fourteen inches
around the foot, while in others it was very slight.
The sand was quite dark until trodden upon or
disturbed in some other way ; and we observed no

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

263

luminosity at all at tlie time on tlie water. Occa-
sionally a piece of seaweed was disturbed, which
showed its whole len-tli by the phosphorescent
clow which wns immediately produced. _ Ou taking
up the senweed, the slow became most intense, and
on passinc: tlie weed between the lingers, the slow
became attached to them, and a strong smell ot
phosphorus was unmistakably perceived _ ihe
phosplioreseent glow was seen inost brightly
wlipre there were lines of foam leit by the tide.
When the foam was disturbed, the whole became
brilliant immediately. The lisht was not seen on
anv seaweed but tlie Chorda filim. ; the Fiiciis vest-
(>M/'os?« and sertularias did not exhibit the pheno-
menon. Several flashes of lightning were observed
at the time in the west, but we heard no thunder.
Is not this phosphorescence on the sand an untre-
quent occurrence? Can you give me any mtorma-
tion about it ^—A. B. C, Croydon.

BiTiDs Imitating Sounds. — I do not know
whether naturalists have made the extent to which
small birds have the power of imitating sounds
foreign to their own natural notes, a subject of in-
vestigation. Bullfinches, we know, can whistle
elaborate tunes : their voice organs must be won-
derfully flexible, their ear extremely sensitive, and
their iutuitiveness of memory such as also to'suggest
a development of brain beyond the phenomena of
mere instinct. Canaries whistle tunes, and I was
told the other day of a sparrow which had been
taught by a lady to sing in a manner totally dif-
ferent and far superior to its natural style. Many
years ago, I was staying with my sister in a lodging
a few miles out of London. Soon after we were
settled in, we were rather annoyed by hearing a clock
outside our door continually striking; it was quite
regardless of the true time, and sometimes went on
for several minutes together, but the moment we
opened our door there was silence. Our curiosity
was excited, and we inquired of our landlady what
it meant, as there certainly was no clock within
our precincts. The mystery was soon solved : ou
the window-seat outside our door was a large cage
containiug several canaries ; one of them had been
hung in a cage during the previous winter (it was
now May) near the clock in the kitchen, and had
learned to imitate tiie strike so exactly, that it was
impossible to distinguish the performance of the
machine from that of the little mimic.— J. L.

Vanessa Antioi'a.— I am pleased to_ see that
several captures (most in the eastern counties) of this
rare British insect have occurred lately. Although
reported exceedingly abundant on the continent, so
far as my experience in 1868 and 1870 went, I
should take it to be by no means of such common
occurrence there as Machaon, Podulirius, Hyale, La-
thonia,Io,or Atalanta. Itwouldbeinterest:,iugtonote
if, in the corresponding years during whicii it has
favoured Great Britain with " putting in an appear-
ance," it has been more than usually abundant in
France, Germany, or Switzerland. I heard last
week from my sister, Miss Evelyn Melvill, that
she had captured several specimens in a garden at
Coblenz. This place was the centre of my entomo-
logical observations in the two years I have men-
tioned, when the species was most conspicuous by
its absence. All this leads me, and not without
reason, to surmise that Autiopa is more thau
usually frequent this year in Europe. I noticed,
when in America this year, that this species was
common about Boston and New York : it is not

called there the Cam berwell Beauty, butthe"Mourn-
ing Widow." In Germany it goes by the name of
der Trauermautel, the Mourning Cloak.— J, Cosmo
Melvill.

Ants. — Can any of the readers of Science-
Gossip account for the swarms of ants that this
year infest the hotels and houses on the coast of
Kent and Sussex? They are so minute, that but
for their rapid movements one cannot without a
magnifying-glass detect them. They enter every
crack or hiding-place, and attack bread, fruit, &c.,
by hundreds. I am told, at Mutton's, the confec-
tioneer at Brighton, that they kill and eat beetles
when found on their backs and left at their mercy ;
— they even enter trunks, boxes, &c. — T. B. W.

Missel-Thkush versus Squirrel. — As counsel
for the defendant in the above case, which first
appeared in the columns of Science-Gossip more
than twelve months ago, I feel bound to say a few
more words on behalf of my old client, as the
charge has been renewed against a relation of his
on the other side of the Atlantic, who is apparently
possessed of more than even Yankee 'cuteness.
Turning over the pages of " Waterton's Essays "
(than which I know no higher authority in natural
liistory), I came upon the following remark: —
" Mr. Wighton's squirrels will consume carnal food
in confinement, whilst mine in liberty are never
known to touch it." I was very glad to meet with
this, as so far it confirms my opinion. . Now I wish,
one of the upholders of the flesh-devouring theory
would be so kind as to answer the following
question in language that can be easily understood
by us ignorant unbelieving blockheads : — How can
an English squirrel climbatree andcarry apheasant's
&g^ at the same time ? When this has been satis-
factorily accomplished, I will cry peccavi. — H. C.
Sargent.

An Optical Phenomenon. — Under this head,
in the September number, was a very remarkable
statement, which reminds me of a much commoner
phenomenon noticed, 1 suppose, by many, but
never very satisfactorily accounted for. I allude
to the border of light seen round a person's shadow
ou the grass wiien the dew is heavy and the morn-
ing sun is bright. It will be best seen on the
grass, but may be noticed also on the roadside
hedges when the observer is riding or walking
quickly along the road. The general explanation
is that it is simply an illusion produced by the
strong contrast of light and shade ; but all who
will observe carefully will agree that it is something
more than contrast. It may be in the recollection
of some of your readers that the subject is touched
upon in Sir Emerson Tennent's book on Ceylon,
lu that island the dew is dense and the sun in-
tensely bright ; and every moving shadow on the
grass has a strongly illuminated border, to such an
extent, indeed, that it is supposed to have suggested
the halo which is depicted round the Cingalese
idols. The phenomenon I speak of, like the more
remarkable one noticed by your correspondent, is
no doubt due to refraction, but it is never noticed
in works on optics. — W. L. Bell, M.A.

Whitebait.— Can any of the readers of Science-
Gossip inform me if Whitebait is a distinct species
{Cltipea alba), or is it the young or fry of the
Herring (C harengus) ? Some ichthyologists state
that the tiny fish termed Whitebait is simply the fry
of the Herring.— C. /. Latlibury, Worcester.

sot

HARDWICKE'S S CIEN C E-GO SS IP.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

W. Mawb. — The facts you rpcord are well known to ento-
mologists. See Newman's " Butterflies " on the phenomena
of hybernation.

S. S. — Your notice of Siiiranthes never came to hand.

L. O. F. R. — It is a common thinK for the Lias fossils to be
incrusted with pyrites, but there is no means of removing
the latter without injuring the fossils.

P. Barlow. — The " Micrographic Dictionary," now pub-
lishing in half-crown parts, would meet all your wants, as
it gives a full and detailed account of each microscopical
object.

E. LovKTT. — The so-called gall is better known as " Oak-
button." It is formed by one of the Cynipidne, called
Neurohius lieaumuri. See .S.-G. for November, 1866.

J. \V.— The Oak-leaf funsus is Uredo Quercils. That on
the Veronica leaf appears to he U. confluens.

T. B. W. — Very curious. See Master's " Teratology " for
similar freaks. Please send the paper you mention to us.

E. M. P. — Your pest appears to be the Red House-ant
(Dipliirhoptrum mnlesta). It is anything but a rare visitor in
London, Hastings, and Brighton. For full description see an
article by W. E. Shuckard, in Scikxce-Gossip for December,
1866. The species has undoubtedly been introduced from
South America.

E. T. S. — Your specimen of Geranium fungus has unfortu-
nately been mislaid. Send another.

R. Blight.— The Star-thistle Centaurea ( Cen^aurea ca?ci-
traj)ii).

J. B.— The fungus is A. statice ; it is not uncommon on the
Dandelion.

H. L. G.— Vou are right in your surmise The plant sent
is the Autumnal Gentian (Gentinti'i imtarelln).

J. H. G.— The plant you describe corresponds with
Charophyllum temulentum, or " Rough Chervil."— J. B.

H. C. S.— Your bird is doubtless the IJttle Grebe, or Dab-
chick (Podireps minor).

FrxGi. M. Brownnig. Hastings —Fungus sent is Boletus
snbtomentostis^ Giant Puff-ball. Cut in slices half-inch thick
to fry in egg for ten minutes. — W. G. S.

J. H. M.— You had better send us the e.xtract to look over,
as well as cuts, &c.

J. A. G.— Please leave a specimen at 192, Piccadilly.

E. H. — Accepted. Will appear next month.

M. D. Berksford. — In the reply last month, instead o£B.
uniiitlt'um, read B. curvutum.

H. V. E.— The ferns inclosed are the Black Spleenwort
(Aipleniiim adiantum-nigrutn). Your variety of Hart's-tongue
is doubtless that of muliifidum.

E. C. J.— No letters relating to exchange of zoophytes have
been sent to us for you. Answer as to zoophytes next
month.

E. \V. — No. 1 is E. parriflora ; No. 2, E. angustifolia.

A. E. M. — The shell is Muctni stultoruvt.

J. Sargent, Jun.— The insect was probably Lepisma
saciharina ; but it came utterly smashed. Our querists cannot
take too much trouble in inclosing specimens. It is too great
a temntation to the Post-office officials to resist smashing
anything marked " with care ! "

J. M. Xewland. — The specimen was the Small Earwig
[Labia minor).

The Fu-vgus with black stalks seems to be a barren form
of T/iamnomyces hippotrichioides. — W. G. S.

EXCHANGES.

W'ell-mol'nted slides of diatoms, kc, for unmounted and
unprepared diatomaceous earths. Names required. N.B.
Except Toomebridge.— H. B. Thomas, 13, Market-place,
Boston.

Three varieties of .4c<inia, an eleven-rayed Star-fish, and
sundry other specimens, ni exchange for any othfrs suitable
lor a small marine tank.- A. E. Allinson, Lynn, Norfolk.

Crystals for Polariscope. — A variety offered :n exchange
for other well- mounted slides.— Send list to Alfred Allen,
Felstead, E-^sex.

British Land and Frrsh-water Shells, named andlocalities
given, in exchange for British Birds' Eggs, with names, &c. —
Address with lists, H. Perkins, Sibford, near Banbury, Oxon.

Sucui ES of Halichondrin snniruinea and Gruntia bo-
trviiidesior other good mounted objects. — J. C. Hutcheson,
8, Lensdowne Crescent, Glasgow.

\V A NTEii. in exchange for a good unmounted object, a good
specimen of Actinocynlus RiilJ'sii, well mounted in balsam. —
Send stamped box or enveh j)-, with the object, to W. Sar-
gant, Jun., Caverswali, Cheadlc, Staffordshire.

NiiRTH American Coleojitera in exchange lor any other. —
Address W. V. Andrew, No. lir. Broadway, New York, U.S.

British Lepidopteraiii exchangefor otherBritish ; Northern
specimens wanted.— A. H.S.,5li, Arlington Street, Morning-
ton Crescent, London.

For testa of Star Anise-seed send stamped directed enve-
lope and object to John H. Martin, S6, Week-st., Maidstone.

Larv.^ of Oak Eggar {Lasiocainpa qufi-cila), and Pupre of
Privet Sphinx (S. ligustri), for good microscopic slides.— John
Woodland, The Parks, Nineheai, Taunton.

For hair of Guanaco send stamped envelope to Isaac
Wheatley, Mailing Street, Lewes. Any microscopic object
acceptable.

Eggs of Kingfisher, Cuckoo, Quail, Spotted Sandpiper.
Stone Curlew, Long-eared Owl, Bernicle Goose, Nfi?ht-jar,
and Red Grouse, &c, for other good eggs. Sea birds' e-pe-
cially wanted. Unacceptedoffersnotanswered.— J. Anderson,
Alresford, Hants.

British Ferns and their vars. for others, British or Foreign.
— J. Bowman, Cockan Lamplugh, Cockermouth.

Lepidoptera, British Land and Fluviatile Shells. Fossils,
and Minerals, in exchangefor Foreign or rare British shells,
or fossils. Lists sent and required. — M. M., Post Office,
Faversham, Kent.

Good slides for Mole Crickets, Locusts, Great Cockroach
{B/atta giga.'), the harmless Wake Beetle [Hydrous piceus).
— C. L.Jackson, Clarendon Terrace, Bolton.

W.\.\ted, growing plant of Bardfield O.xlip [Primula elatior,
Jacq.). Growing plant of Pulmnnaria angustifolia offered in
e.xchange. — F. J. Warner, 3, Clifton Terrace, Winchester.

Wa.vted to exchange, Forfarshire Mosses for the mosses of
any other locality. — W. M. Ogilvie, Lochee, near Dundee.

For a little seaweed rich with Grainmatonhora marina and
Rhabdoneina arcuatuin, send stamped and directed envelope
to William Swinbum, 36, West Strand, Whitehaven, Cum-
berland.

Silken Cocoons of Liparis auriflua and Odonestis
potaturia, aud other entomological slides for exchange. — Ad-
dress, E. Lovett, Holly Mount, Croydon.

Wanted, Lias and Oolitic Fossils in exchangefor Mountain
Limestone species.— J. Harker, Richmond, Yorkshire.

For Hair of Mole, Fox, and American Squirrel send stamped
directed envelope and object of microscopical interest to
R. L- Kay, Cathnor Road, New Road, Shepherd's Bush, W.

Sporangia of Fuhjpodiutn nerifolium and Nvphnidiam
molle-cristatum for good objects and stamped envelope. —
W. B. Marshall, 16, Chaucer Street, Nottingham.

A Collection of Fossils, comprising specimens from
almost all the formations, for|a student's microscope. — Rough
lists on application to F. Stanley, Infirmary, Margate.

Plants from Ben Lawers, Sec, in exchange for rare plants.
— W. R. Hayward, Devonshire Road, Forest Hill, S.E.

L. Sybilla, V. polychloros, H. Semelt, C. ligniperda, X.
cerasa, C. du/ilaris, A. Aprilina, &c. &c., in exchange for
British or Foreign Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, or Microscopic
slides. — Joseph Anderson, Jun., Alresford, Hants.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

" The Canadian Naturalist." No. 4.

"The Yorkshire Naturalists' Recorder." Nos. 1, 2, and 3.

" The Boston Journal of Chemistry." No. 3, vol. vii.

" Land and Water."

" The Vegetable World." By L. Figuier. New aiid revised
edition. London : Cassell & Co.

Liiidley and Hutton's " Fossil Flora of Great Britain."
Vol. i. New edit.,, edited by W. Carruthers, F.R.S., London-

" Town Geology." By Canon Kingsley. London: Strulian
&Co.

" Introduction to Study of Biology" By Professor >ichoU
son. London and Edinburgh : Blackwood & Son.

" Canadian Entomologist." No. 8.

" Popular Science Review," October. London : Hard-
wicke.

"Proceedings of the Bristol Naturalists' Society," IS,'::.
January to May.

Deschamel's " Natural Philosophy." By Professor Everett.
Part IV. " ^ound and Heat " London : Blackie & Son.

"The Flint- works at Cissbury." By Dr. J. Stevens.

" Geological Notices of North Hampshire." By Dr. Joseph
Stevens.

"Memoirs of the Geological Survey." Vol. iv. "The
Geology of the London Basin." Part I. "The Chalk and
Eocene Beds of the Southern and Western Tracts." By W.
Whitaker, B.A., F.G.S. London, 18-2.

Communications Rkckivko up to l2th Oct.— T. B
C. L. J.— T. B. \V.— E. B. F.— A. M.-J. C. M.— J.
J. W. B.— H. L. G.-J. B.-C. S. P. P.— J. H.— W. V.
A. H. S.- W. S.-H. E. S.— H. H.-M. B. M.-G. C.-C.
— C. R.-J. C. H.-A. A.— H. P.— T. A.-T. P.— W. M.-
— A. E. A.-W. W.-J. M. N.-F. J. W.-L. F. R.— P
T. B. W.— F.. T. 8.— C. C. A.— W. G. S.— A. I.— H. B
R. H. N. B.-H. A. L —J. P — E. M.— J. H. M.— J. A.
I W.— J. J. M.— F. J. W.— E. B. K.-E. L— \V. G.— E.
W. M. G.-J. A.. Jun.— H. W.— J. W.— E. H.-R.
H. F. E.— J. B.— \V. H. C— E. C. L.— J. P.— F. A.— 11.
— W. H. W.— A. H. S.— A. F.-E. W.— W . R. W.— F.
W. B. M.— H. L. K — W. B.— W. L N.-L. S.— A. E.
A. L.— B. J. A.-E. M. F.— E. E.— E. \V., &e.

B.—

W.—

A.—

E. H.

-S.S.

. B.—

. T.—

H.—

T. S.

H.—

B. G.

S.—

M.—

hahdwicke's science-gossip.

20-

COLLECTING AND PEESEEVING.

No. XI. -LAND AND FRESIi-WATER SHELLS, &c.

By Ralph Tate, Assoc. Lin. Soc, E.G.S., &c.

I'OUNG friend, desirous
of entering upon one of
the most accessible
natural history pursuits
— that of the study of
Land and Eresli water

^'^'^Ah^/TJil^^'^^^^'^ ^loUuscs, begged of
'- "^^-f I tJ^ mc some practical hints on the
collection and preservation of
these objects of our woodlands,
waysides, and water-courses.
Eelieving that this kind of
work offers a good stepping-
stone to the study of Nature
it its more extended forms and
complicated relations, I was
most anxious to help my tyro
naturalist, and that beyond his
utmost expectations, as I made
a few initiatory trips with him in a search for the
coveted treasures.

Our equipment was simijle and inexpensive, con-
sisting of a block -tin saucepan finely perforated at
the bottom, about six inches across, and having a
hollow handle of a size to receive firmly the end of
a common walking-stick — such a dredge or a sifter
will cost ninepeuce or a shilling at a tinman's ;
secondly, of a pocket lens ; and lastly, of a variety
of boxes, and a bag to contain specimens of different
sizes. Thus provided, our first excursion had for its
object an examination of certain neighbouring
ponds and streams. My pupil, guessing the use of
the perforated saucepan, makes his way to the
nearest pond, fixes the improvised handle, dashes
in the sifter with impatient ardour, and having
brought up a quanity of mud from the bottom^
■looked upon the oozy mass with despair. Patience,
my lad ! Remember that the pleasure of success in
N"o. 96.

I science is the higher, the greater the labour ex-
pended in obtaining the objects of our search.
Expect failure now and again, but do not be dis-
heartened : "Oliiie hast, ohie rast," should be the
motto of every naturalist. Now, shake the tin in
the water, keeping its rim just out of the water,
dipping it down now and then. That is well ; thus
you see that you have cleared off the mud, and
what you want is probably left behind along with
the rubbish. What, nothing ! Come, try again ;
but this time scrape the sifter along the surfac^of
the mud, and I am confident that you will find
something to reward you, and with much less
trouble and display of temper. lu this way, after
repeated trials, a number of shells were secured
and transferred to the boxes. Then, after the first
gush of excitement is over, we retire to an adjoin-
ing bank to con over the spoils, and I to make
mention of the various habits of freshwater snails,
and couseciuently of the different modes of search.
My young friend's enthusiasm is aroused by the
mention that a few large mussel-like shells are in-
habitants of our fresh waters, and great is his haste
to be up and again doing, in the hope of adding
some of them to his stock. But in vain were his
many attempts to find them in the pond which had
already yielded us such a variety. Do they live
here ? is at last the anxious question. No ; but let
us away to yon sluggish brook, for it is in such that
we may expect to meet with them. Now E see
them ; are those not their ends just peeping above
the mud ? And full of eagerness he dashes in the
dredge, but with little result, excepting tliat of a
dead shell or two. Oh ! how can I get them ?
Shall I take off my shoes and socks and wade for
them ? Well, you might secure them that way, and
sometimes it is the only way, but on this occasion I
do not think it necessary. Come, we will move a

2Cfl

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

little higher up, where the stream is clear, and the
sliell-fish undisturbed. Observe the gaping ends of
the shell, and thus I push tiie end of this stout rod
between the partiuily-open valves ; now they close
upon the stick, and so we bring our prize holding
on to the stick to the bank.

"You will recollect (addressing my companion)
that in the muddy pond we have just left we chiefly
got small bivalves and only a few snail shells. I
have already told you that water-shells differ much
in their habits, and that consequently our search
for any particular species, or set of species, can
only be successfully carried on when that know-
ledge is our guide. Those little bivalves, and a
few of the snails that we have gathered, habitually
live at the bottom, and will of coui-se be brought
up in the dredge when that implement is dragged
over it ; but there are many shells which live at or
near the surface, and which feed on the submerged
and floating plants. Therefore we must seek out
a weedy pool if we would increase the variety of
our collection." Such a one is reached. And the
dredge brought hito requisition, anon to snatch up
a floating snail, again to sweep it over and through
the plants, varying our occupation by dragging to
the margin the tangled masses of weeds ; by all of
which means a considerable number of the class
of air-breathing water-snails were obtained— ad-
monishing my young friend that this last plan
does very well when the plants grow in dense
m^ses, because when thus interlaced they form
a natural net to catch those snails which on the
slightest disturbance lose their hold upon
tlie weeds, and which would otherwise fall to the
bottom.

Yet another plan remains to be pursued, one by
which the few small shells hiding among the roots
of the plants may be secured. Obviously the
dredge misses such; but by pulling up the plants
by their roots, and well shaking them in the half-
sunken sifter, we yet after all obtain them.

From causes which need not be explained here,
the shells living in some ponds are all much
eroded, or coated with a ferruginous deposit ; it
win be desirable therefore to fiiid out the localities
where specimens arc in the best condition, so that
you may have typical specimens for comparison
before an extensive collection is made.

Our experience is that though a considerable
number of species may be obtained from a ditch or
pond, yet a few are found as the sole molluscan
tenants of particular sheets of water ; that lakes
exliibit a dearth of life, and that the greatest
variety is often to be met with in canals ; but should
a search be carried on in them, avoid the tow-
path side, for reasons that a little thought will find
ready solution.

Living near the sea, and within a short distance
of wooded hill-sides, \^ e had within a limited area

such a variety of physical features that had led us to
infer the existence of a rich molluscan fauna for the
neighbourhood. Our second excursion was de-
voted to a search for snails along the sea margin
and shores of the estuary. Proceeding along the
low sand-dunes— at first sight a most uninteresting
spot — Helix cuperata, H. virgata, Bullyaus acutus,
and a few other snails, were found clustering upon
the low, stunted vegetation, in such numbers that
handfuls might have been gathered within an area
of a few square feet. Leaving the sea-shore, our
way led us over the fore-shore of the mouth of the
river, crushing under our feet at every step shells
of Cardlum edule, Scrohlcularla pipercUa, and a few
other bivalves which find a congenial habitat in
such situations. Gaining the .muddy margins of
the higher part of the estuary, Conovulm was looked
for, and found under the stones along the high-
water mark. Higher up the river the rejectanientum
on its banks was carefully turned over ; and we
were successful in securing a number of land shells.
The animals, of course, do not live in such places ;
but their empty shells, which only were found, had
been brought down from the land surface by the
agency of the streams and tributaries of the river.
Nevertheless such an omnmm (jatherum should
demand attention, as its contents give an insight
into the character of the land and freshwater forms
within the area of drainage of the river.

The number of estuariue species which have a
place in our works devoted to British land and
freshwater snails is very few, and the majority,
moreover, are confined to the margins of the tidal
rivers in the South of England. ThM^AsslmiueaGray-
aiia, Ilijdrohla rcntrosa, and //. sliiillls, live on the
mud banks beneath the shade of sedges and rushes,
skirting the Thames below Greenwich. To gather
these small shells singly is a tedious operation ; but
if a thin piece of flat wood, or other substitute as
the ingenuity of the collector suggests, be used to
scrape lightly over the surface of mud, transfer-
ring the mass to the dredger, and washing in
water, a number of specimens sufiicieut to stock
every private cabinet in the country may be
obtained in a short space of time.

Eor the third initiatory excursion our steps were
directed inland, and as we proceed the hedgerows,
mossy banks, and margins of water-courses were
diligently searched ; finding a Tlellx here, a Fupa
or a Succlnea there. Gaining the woods, we turn
over the damp leaves ; grub under the clumps of
ferns and wood-rushes for small Helices, Pupcc, and
the like ; scan the trunks of the trees, for the climb-
ing CJausUiir', BulLul, and Ildlces, not unmindfid
that each little dirt-like mass is probably a \Buli-
mus obsciirus, which, by covering its shell with
mud, thus exhibits a protective faculty, and often
escapes detection. Kaise the rotting bark for
Baled ; lift the stones at our feet, or roll away a

1

HARDVVICKE'S SCIEN CE -G 0 SS IP.

2G7

log" for Helicella, aud otlier small shells which
usually live in such situations,

Erom all this we learn that each species affects
certain stations, aud therefore, with the knowledge
of the circumstances in which they are found,
we may set out with some definite idea as to what
we are likely to meet with ; and in consequence
when to collect, and where to collect, are regulated
by the unvarying habits of the objects of our search.

Now, a large portion of the life of most land
snails is passed in a state of sleep. Those living
in open situations arc inactive during the heat of a
summer's day, and when there is continued drought ;
but on the first shower, or after the fall of dew at
night, they recover aud move about in search of
food. Cold acts much in the same respects as heat,
and with the fall of the leaf they retire to winter
quarters in crannies of rocks, crevices of walls,
under heaps of decaying vegetation, &c., or bury them-
selves in the soil, there to hybernate till the genial
showers of spring awaken them.

The best time of the year for collecting is in the
autumn, when the shells are full-grown. Those
collected in spring have lost much of their original
beauty by exposure to the rains aud cold of the
winter months.

As regards the particular time of day to collect
with advantage, it has already been implied that a
search in an open country should be prosecuted
after a shower of rain, or during early morn.
In damp woods, where throughout the day the air
is sufHciently moist to maintain the animals in full
activit}-, no such considerations determine the best
time for collecting. In such places, light is usually
the desideratum, and, consequently, I have found that
search conducted at mid-day in a clear sky has been
amply rewarded.

Land snails exhibit a partiality for calcareous
soils, not only by those living on downs and hill-sides,
but also by the woodland species.

Having spent the forenoons of three days in
gathering slugs and snails as before detailed, one
evening was devoted to the preparation of the spe-
cimens for the cabinet.

The first step was to remove the animals, and, as
all know, it is neither au easy nor a cleanly task to
separate the living snail and its house ; but kill
your snail, and, the muscular connection with the
shell being severed, its whole body is readily taken
out by means of a pin— wliy,tit is just like picking
periwinkles; and if the proclivities of our child-
hood's days are not entirely obliterated, cleaning
out larger snails from their shells will be a task
requiring no teaching. But, with regard to the
smaller kind, it is another matter, and it will be my
duty to show you how to set about the work.

Now pick out those shells, the apertures of which
are wide enough, as it seems to you, to permit the
removal of the dead body of the snail by a pin.

You may also place with them the larger bivalves.
All these we will boil to kill the animals ; then
strain off the water, and wash with cold water. By
this means the bodies contract, aud being firmer,
arc not so liable to be broken in the process of
removal. Shake the water out of the empty shells,
and place them before the fire to dry ; do not rub
them, but particles of dirt may be gently flicked
off by the aid of a camel-hair brush. Thus we
treat the larger snails. Now for the mussels.
Doubtlessly most of the dead bodies v/ill have
fallen out between the open valves while in tlic
w^ater ; should any remain, a slight shaking of the
shell held by the hand in the water will remove the
contained body. Taken from the water, the valves
gape widely; dry the inside and outside with a
cloth, and having tape or cotton at hand, close the
valves by the pressure of the thumb and fingers of
the one hand, and with the end of the thread be-
tween your teeth, wind the thread two or three
times around the shell with the other; now tie the
thread as tight as you can. Yes, I have done so,
but still the valves are not closed. True, this is
because of the elasticity of thread. If, however,
you will take the precaution to wet the thread
before tying, you will find that the tie is more
secure, and that there is less difficulty in making
the second knot.

With patience and a little skill, bivalves as small
as Cijclas cornea may be treated in this way. But
the smaller Pisidiuns, aud some of the minute
snails, as Carijchiuhi r,iiniiiiur,i, may be prepared for
the cabinet by gently drying them ia sand; too
great a heat causes a transfusion of the carbon-
aceous matter of the animal into the substance of
the shell, which is thereby discoloured.

There still remain for treatment such shells as
Clausilia, BuUmus, Helicella, some Helices, &c.,
the animals of which retreat, on the least irritation,
beyond the reach of a pin, and whose shells, indeed,
will hardly bear the rough handling almost neces-
sary when a pin is used. Their bodies might be
dried within the shells, but if it be possible to re-
move some portion only of the animal, an attempt
should be made to do so.

Laud snails, when placed in water, do their best
to elfect an escape from a medium so fatal to tliem ?
their efforts are usually exhibited by stretching out
their bodies to the utmost, swaying them to and fro
as if in search of a foothold. Taking advantage of
this propensity; the snails should be immersed in
tepid water, because the majority, after a day or
two's confinement in the collecting-boxes, will be
in a dormant condition, and warm water has a
greater resuscitating effect than cold. When all
the snails are struggling to find a way out of their
unpleasant situation, gradually add hot water so as
to kill or paralyze them while in an extended state.
They may now be thrown into boiling water, the

N 2

208

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

better to relax the muscular attachments, and the
bodies, or so much as will come away, dragged out by
forceps or a pin passed through the foot. The shells
may now be dried in sand as before mentioned.

In cleaning the shells of some species, great
care is needed, so as not to remove the hairs or
bristles wdiich clothe tlie surface of the epidermis.

The shells of such snails as Palndiiia, Cijclodoma ,
&C.&C., would be imperfectly illustrated without the
opercula which close the apertures of their shells.
Each one should be detached from the foot of tiie
snail, the interior of the sliell plugged with cotton
wool, and the specimen gummed dow'n in its natural
position.

The preservation of slugs requires separate treat-
ment, and I can give but little additional inform-
ation to that published in my " British Land and
Ereshwater Molluscs," an extract from which is
subjoined.

" As regards the internal shell, it maybe obtained
by making a conical incision in the shield, taking
eare not to cut down upon the calcareous plate,
which can then be removed without difficulty. Tiie
animals can only be conserved by keeping them in
some preservative fluid ; but the great object to
keep in view is to have the slug naturally extended.
Most fluids contract the slugs when they are im-
mersed in them. The slugs should be killed whilst
crawling, by plunging them into a solution of cor-
rosive sublimate, or into benzine. Models in wax
or dough are sometimes substituted for the animals.
A writer in the Katuralist gives a process for the
preservation of slugs, which he states to answer
admirably, and to be very superior to spirit, glyce-
rine, creosote, and other solutions : — ' Make a cold
saturated solution of corfoaice sublimate; put it
into a deep wide-mouthed bottle ; then take the
slug you wish to preserve, and let it crawl upon a
long slip of card. When the tentacles arc fully
extended, plunge it suddenly into the solution ; in
a few minutes it will die, with the tentacles fully
extended in the most life-like manner; so much so,
indeed, if taken out of the fluid it would be dithcult
to say whether it be alive or dead. The slugs thus
prepared should not be mounted in spirit, as it is
apt to contract and discolour them. A mixture of
one and a half parts of water and one part of gly-
cerine, I flud to be the best mounting fluid. It
preserves the colour beautifully, and its antiseptic
qualities are unexceptionable. A good-sized test-
tube answers better tlian a bottle for putting them
up, as it admits of closer examination of th& animal.
The only drawback to this process is, that, unless
the solution is of sufficient strength, and unless the
tentacles are extruded when the animal is immersed,
it generally, but not invariably, fails. Some slugs
appear to be more susceptible to the action of the
fluid than others ; and it generally answers better
with full-grown than with young specimens. But,

if successful, the specimens are as satisfactory as
could be desired ; and, even if unsuccessful, they
are a great deal better than those preserved in
spirit ; for, although the tentacles may not be com-
pletely extruded, they are more or less so.' "

The Testacellae I have treated in the following
manner : by partially drying them in sand, and re-
moval of the soft parts through a cut in the length
of the foot, filling up with cotton wool and a re-
newal of the drying.

Our land and freshwater snails have other struc-
tures besides their shells which should claim our
attention. These, which include their jaws, tongues,
and some other minute parts, are not so inaccessible
as one is at first too apt to consider, and are de-
servedly in favour as microscopic objects requiring
a low power. Anticipating a continuation of the
present article iu a second on the methods of ob-
taining and preparing these objects, I shall therein
assume that the collector has preserved the bodies
or the heads of the snails in spirit, which he has
removed from their shells in the 'process of pre-
paring them for his cabinet. He will take care to
keep separate the animals of each species.

A last word upon the mode of displaying the
shells in tlie cabinet. Here one has considerable
choice, as they may be kept in open card trays, or
iu glass-topped boxes, or gummed on cards, papered
boards, or glass tablets. Loose specimens admit of
ready examination, whilst the method of mounting
permits an arrangement of individuals according to
size and locality, and is much to be preferred.

THE STONE AGE FISH AND EISHING.
By Dk. Charles C. Abbott.

ON the very brow of a high commanding ridge
that faces the beautiful broad Delaware, and
skirts an expanse of meadow that was of yore a
favourite haunt of the Red man, formerly stood an
extensive Indian village, that for centuries, pro-
bably, was a scene of all that characterized the life
of the aborigines ; for the fertile fields that now
replace the wigwams are the richer for the actual
thousands of skeletons that are crumbling into
dust, or have long since mingled into earth, with-
out leaving a trace of their former presence.

On upland and lowland alike, about the gravelly
hill-side and in the muddy bed of the weedy creek,
are still fouud, in countless numbei's, the " chipped
flint " traces of a Stone Age people. We have
gathered thousands of objects from a few scores of
acres hereabouts, and they seem in no way dimin-
ished in numbers as yet. So deeply buried have
many finally become, that we need other means
than that friend of the archcTcologist as well as of
the farmer— the plough, — to bring them to light.

One glorious sunny afternoon of the past month

HARDVVICKE'S SCIEN C E-G OSSIP.

2G9

•-of May, wc tumcu our back to llic plonglied fields
■ubeic we gatlicied arrow-points until tired of the
sport, and lazily lingered iu the dense shade of
giaut oalvS and elms that lined the hill-tops, and
listened to the erratic melody of the mocking-bird,
and watched, with no less deliglit, the cunning of
a flycatcher {'Empidoiiax acadica), as it tied gossa-
mer threads to the tendcrest of twigs, and wrought
an airy cradle from scarcely more stable materials.
So much of life abounded that was worthy of all
our time and attention, that we had not given our
day's " find " of relics of the dead a thought. The
leathern bag of two hundred specimens was lying
on the ground while yet we tarried ; and most
fortunate, indeed, was our lazy fit of that May day.
Just where we were we would have spent no time in
searching for relics had we been "out collecting;''
and just here we picked up, we know scarcely
why, two thin stones, that were almost concealed
beneath the leaves and moss. Judge of our surprise
when they proved to be two of the handsomest
jasper spears we had ever seen !

could never impale a perch or pickerel with them.
Our Stone Age ancestors are so far in the past that
no trace of lisli-spcaring capability remains,
provided such slender little harpoons were used ;
but with these big spears we could get to work,
and so, after securely fastening them to slender
but strong ash shafts, we went to the creek, and
started on a little hunt, being favoured by having
a clear sky overhead, a light little boat to float in,
and water as clear as crystal beneath us.

" What fish shall we look for ? " was the first ques-
tion we put to ourselves. "What fish more appro-
priate than the gar ! " we replied. " Very appropriate,
but where will we find him ? " Somehow we had
faith froai that moment that our search would be

successful ; and so we sculled the little boat to that

j

part of the creek where the current was swift, and
a dense mass of vegetation covered the bed of the
stream. Nothing of note was seen on our little
row, or scull rather, except the lazy masses of
yellow jelly that has been honoured with the high-
sounding name of Tectinatella magmfica : the mag-

rig-. 183. The Gui--Pike {I.epidusleus osseus), ,\ nat. size.

We need not have wondered why they were
there, and so perfect too. Since the first occupancy
of this part of the State by the white settlers, there
has been no disturbance of the hill -sides that face
the Delaware and its meadows. Well, at any rate,
here they were ; one of them, a triangular blade,
three inches in length, and a trace over two in
width at the base. The stem is short for the
blade, so it seems to us ; but being clipped to its
end, it has never been any longer. The other
consists of a blade two inches and a half in
length, the sides being convex instead of straight ;
with a stem or tongue an inch and a quarter in length,
instead of half an hicli, as in the other specimen.

We know that many a museum could exhibit
these spear-points to advantage, but we were not
in a generous mood, and so concluded to experiment
with them; and the most natural means of so
doing seemed to us, to spear fish, inasmuch as
we had no mammal about that would allow us to
come within reach.

Such spears as we have mentioned, of course, are
not the true " fish-spears," such as Mr. Evans has
figured as arrow-heads in his magnificent volume.*
These, too, are common in New Jersey; but we

* " Stone Implements of Great Britain," p. 339, fig. 302.

nificeuce being reserved for those fortunate enough
to possess a good microscope. Reaching the grassy
portion of the brook, we stretched ourselves full
length iu the boat, and with one stone spear in
hand, and another handy to grasp, should we want
it, we peered over the bow, and looked for gars.
It is only by the merest good luck that we ever do
see them here in Crossweelssen Creek, or, indeed,
in the Delaware river; but our "feelings" were
true to us to-day, for very soon wc did spy out the
long taperiugjawsof aZey«V/'ayi'e/M',and weknew that
behind those jaws, well concealed in the long grass,
was a very active body which would dodge us,
should we be any way demonstrative. When lying
thus in the grass, with his head pointed up
stream, it will be noticed that he is always on the
edge of a patch of river weed, on the look-out for
fish, as they come leisurely down the more open
water. So it proved in this case ; for just as wc
had succeeded in getting down our anchor without
any commotion, and were lying perfectly still in the
middle of the stream, we saw, bobbing here and
there, over pebbles, sand, and sunken twigs, nose
down and tail up, a mammoth chub {Semotiliis
rJiothens, Cape), as big, lazy, and restless as any of
his kind. In a few moments he had reached a point
within a foot of the end of the gar's now partly-

270

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN C E -GO S S IP.

opeuod jaws. Thea there was a coiimiotiou ! The
gar rushed, with the rapidity of h'ghtuiug, upon the
uususpectiug chub. He seized him midway between
Lead and tail. The teeth of the captor had taken
so Arm a hold upon the chub, that he could not
disengage them ; and as the chub was not instantly
killed, of course he squirmed terribly, to the very
evident annoyance of the gar.

With the mangled chub in his jaws, the gar moved
slowly out into the clear water, and we knew that
our time to have a chance at the gar had come.
Piaising up one arm as far as we could reach, and
rising up on our knees and one elbow, we measured
the distance between the spear-point and the fish
with a glance, and then, trusting to the little aim
that we could get, thrust the spear home, witli a
force that would have done credit to a prehistoric
hunter.

The motion of the shaft, which latter we had
yery wisely secured by a cord to the boat, told us
we had not struck in vain, — the fish was indeed
ours ; and oh, but we were proud as we learned the
result ! Old Stone Age times came back again in
very truth ! The little boat was a rude " dug-out,"
and the great blue herons and screaming kingfishers
seemed more appropriate than ever to the still,
wild, unaltered, venerable Crossweelssen Creek.
But the gar did not appreciate the poetry of the
time and circumstances as we did, and with the
stone spear securely fastened in his side and spine,
he made off as best he could ; the only instance of
a fish swimming with his back broken that we ever
saw. Soon he came to a halt, however, and reach"
ing the spot, we made a second thrust with greater
care, and again transfixed him with the convex-
sided spear. How madly he stared at us when we
iinally secured him ! As we tried to draw him from
the water to the boat, he gave one mad dash at our
arms, and caught a stick that was floating by. His
teeth were buried full length in the wood ; and the
gar died, holding on to the branch. Just as he was,
except that we drew out the spears, we took his
picture; and here it is.

The fish measured just five feet in length; the
head being exactly one-third of the total length,
exclusive of the tail. The head is the most notice-
able part of the animal. The mouth is two-thirds
of the whole length of the head; and its length is
just eight times greater than the width. Such jaws
remind one of an alligator's ; but re:dly, those of
the gar are even more terrible. On eitlver side of
the upper and lower jaws we find, by actual
count, one hundred and fifty very sharp, slender
teeth, with their points slightly inclined toward the
throat ; or, in all, six hundred needle-like teeth,
and every one equally sharp as the best needle
ever made. Nor are these all the teetli that the
gar has; for on looking a little more closely, we
find on either side of the lower jaw two parallel

rows of very minute teeth, which are nearly uniforiii
in size, and very sharp. It is impossible to count
them, but we judged of their numbers thus: — the
rovi^s are each nineteen inches long, and there are
four of them, or seventy-six inches in all. The
number on one inch, as near as we could tell, was
sixty-five; or four thousand nine hundred and
forty teeth. In the upper jaw are two rows oi
similar teeth, each sixteen inches in length, giving
two thousand and eighty more; or in all, seven
thousand six hundred and twenty teeth in both jaws.
It is not to be wondered at that the chub did not
escape when once fairly caught in such jaws as we
have described.

Tlie gar {Lepidosteiis osseus) is, with the sturgeon,
the only ganoid fish to be found in the waters of
this State ; and as he comes into shallow waters
and quiet streams that attract the zoological fisher-
man more than does the deep river, where the
sturgeon alone is met with now ; so he seems the
onl?/ link between an earlier geological period and
our own times. He seems to have escaped the
innumerable influenoes of natural selection, and is
now just as he was before the first Red Indian
wandered along the shores of our river, or floated
on its bosom in a rude canoe; and how many
centuries since then, who can say? It seemed the
proper thing to do — to use, if we could, these hand-
some jasper spears to capture this "remnant of
archaic times ;" and we believe our modus operandi
varied little from the method of the prehistoric
fishermen, who, centuries ago, hunted them as
eagerly as did we a few days ago, — when Cross-
weelssen Creek was innocent of bridges, and bore
upon its bosom only the rude canoes of a myste-
rious Stone Age people.

MONSTROUS PLANTS IN 1S73.

T HAVE always supposed that a very wet season
-^ such as the memorable one we have just ex-
perienced, must have a great influence in causing
abnormal growth in plants ; |but I have certainly
seen fewer monstrosities during this year than
usual. Even the White and the Alsike Clovers,
which are always more or less given to eccentricities,
have been, if anything, less subject to prolificatiou
than they often are.

Scarlet Geraniums, however, have been very
proliferous. The wet weather has had a
decided influence upon them, causing them to
produce a great quantity of leaves and very few
flowers ; so that t!ie geranium beds have not been
by any means as brilliant as usual ; and I think this
has been remarked everywhere. But when the
flowers did put in an appearance with the mode-
rately fine weather in August, a great proportion of
them were proliferous, producing a leaf or two below

HARDWICKE'S SC I EN CE-QOSSIP.

271

the flowers, and very often a second umbel gro^A--
ing from the side or the middle of the earlier one,
I have noticed that (in my own garden) the variety
called "Stella" has exhibited this peculiarity to
the greatest extent: I wonder whether it has done
so elsewhere ?

In the garden, several very proliferous cowslips
have been gathered, due probably to the richness of
the soil rather than to the v/et weather ; for they,
of course, flowered before the great bulk of the
rain had fallen ; and I notice that manure causes a
very luxuriant growtii in all species of Primula. I
have found several in which a second scape of
flow^ers grew from the middle of the umbel ; an
approach to the tiers of flowers seen in the new
Trimula Jcipomca. I found a similar monstrosity
in a flower of the Bardfield Oxlip (P. clatlor, Jacq.),
and in this specimen the scales below the umbel
had become partially leafy as well. It is probably
due to the wet weather that my plants of P. elatior
have never quite ceased flowering during the whole
of the summer. A great many of the scapes have
furnished examples of "recrudescence," a few
flowers having been produced amongst the rip(;ning
capsules ; but fresh flower-stalks have also con-
tinued to shoot up from the root, and at the time I
write (Oct. 4) I see there is one very pretty bunch
of flowers upon a last year's seedling plant.* The
Kev. H. Bramley-Moore sent me a plant which had
been brought from the Pyrenees ; the flowers upon
it were very nearly over ; but in my garden it soon
put up new and much larger leaves, and came into
flower a second time.

A flower scajjc of the common Cowslip was very
curiously developed. The whole scape wr.s about
twenty inches long. At the height of ten inches
there grew a bunch of leaves, one being the ordinary
size of a cowslip leaf, the others much smaller.
Erom the axils of these leaves were produced a
second lateral scape and a single flower upon a
long pedicel, after the way of a primrose. The
lateral compound scape was at least eight inches in
length, and supported an umbel of nine flowers.
The principal umbel was in two tiers, the upper
tier being raised on a stalk a couple of inches long.
The whole of this exuberant flower bore no less
than thirty-eight pips. I have very little doubt
that if I had pegged down the flower-stalk, it
would have thrown out roots from the base of the
leaves, and 'become a separate plant, like a straw-
berry runner. I hesitated whether to do so, or to
cut it off for preservation ; but I cut it off at last,
and dried it.

A couple of dried flowers of common primrose

* Whilst I am correcting tliis on Nov. 15, the scape is still in
bloom, and two other oUl plants are flowering again, and
put ing up single flowers like primroses, as well as the ordi-
nary umhels.

reached me in a roundabout way, without any par-
ticulars, so I do not know whether tlicy were
gathered this year or not ; but I suppose theui
to be products of 1872, as they were still of a
pretty good colour. In these flowers complete-
dialysis had taken place in the calyx, which
consisted of five distinct linear sepals. In a garden
polyanthus which I gathered in the public
park at Oldham, dialysis of the corolla had taken
place, and all the flowers were formed of separate
petals. A common out-of-door Scarlet Azalea has had
all its flowers split up into their component petals.
The flowers themselves were not more than half
their usual size, and not very numerous, the plant
having run to leaf instead of flower.

As a probable result of wet weather, I have
noticed that trifoliar branches have been very fre-
quent ; I mean the production of three leaves in a
whorl, instead of two opposite leaves, and it has
even occurred in plants which usually have alter-
nate leaves. The malformation has been very
common in the Euchsia, and the flowers have also
hung in threes instead of in pairs. It is a decided
improvement in the fuchsia, and I should not
A\ onder if a strain of triple-flowered fuchsias could
be produced by "growing the plants from these
trifoliar branches. It is worth trying. The
Weifjelias also and the Scarlet Geraniums have
been very liable to produce three leaves in a
whorl.

I have gathered twobi-pinnate leaves of "Jacob's
Ladder ",(Po/-e;«o;«'^.'->/i cceruleiini) from two separate
l^lants.

One of the most interesting examples I have
seen this year is that of Ranudcidus acris, where
chorisis had taken place in most of the leaves, each
leaf being divided into three distinct leaflets upcu
long petioles, but all proceeding from one sheath
at the base ; and this abnormal form was found in
almost every plant for fifty or sixty yards along the
shady side of a hedge.

One more example is worth recording, not as
being exactly abnormal, but as a curious result,
probably, of hybridization. In the very middle of
the heart of a cabbage that was brought in to be
cocked, there was a single streak of red cabbage
upon one of the leaves, looking like a splash of
piu-ple paint. If the plant had been left to run to
seed, and its inner leeves had resumed their green
colour, it would, perhaps, hardly have been noticed ;
but the contrast between the purple streak and the
delicately white leaf was very remarkable. The
plant showed no other stain in its pedigree, and
one could not help wondering Avhy a cross between
two such different varieties should only have be-
come apparent in such a small degree, and in this
particular way.

Robert Holland.

272

HAixJJ vriCKE'S SCIENCE. GOSSIP.

THE THYSA^iURADiE.

THE inquiries Mliich one often lias to answer
lead me to think tbat a few remarks upon the
Thysanuradae will be acceptable to the readers of
Science-Gossip, particularly to those who, like
myself, have had much difficulty in getting- informa-
tion about these interesting creatures. For a long
time I was in this position ; but the recent papers
of Sir John Lubbock, published in the Linnean
Society's Transactions, and Dr. Packard's article on
Bristletails and Springtails in the American Katuml-
ist, have greatly facilitated my studies, and I have
much pleasure in acknowledging my obligations.
Shortly, it is to be hoped, Sir J. Lubbock's mono-
graph will be published, and then students will be
able to enter upon the study of the Thysanuradse
under greater advantages.
The Thysauuradai are divided as follows : —

THYSANTJEADiE.

Lepismacles. Poduradoi.

Japj'x. Smynthurus.

Campodea. Podura.

Lepisma. Lipura.
Pctrobius.

The imperfect remarks which I beg to offer in
the present article will be restricted to the Lepis-
mada?, space being limited; but I hope in a second
paper to offer a few notes on the Poduradaj, and I
trust that what may be said may be of advantage to
some who are working upon the sulyect, and stimu-
late one or two new adherents.

Py the formation of their mouths, which are
designed for nibbling their food, the Lepismada;
seem to have affinities with some of the Xeuroptera
among the insects. But the question as to their
proper classification has been a disputed point with
several great naturalists. I need only briefly
allude to a few of the difficulties that .systematic
classifiers have met with. Some, bearing in mind
their respiratory system, which in most of the
Thysanura is tracheal, and the resemblance which
certain species have to the larval condition of some
of the Keuroptera, have not hesitated to class them
among the insects ; but here they have paused,
and between the consideration whether the Thy-
sanura should come among the Neuroptera or
among the lice and other apterous insects, they
seem to have had a severe stiuggle, which ended
in this group being shelved altogether, or dismissed
with a few superficial remarks. ^ Others, again,
have drawn very different conclusions, based on
the comparison of certain points in their anatomy,
or at least the anatomy of several members of the
group, with similar anatomy in the JMyriapoda.
These authorities incline to place them at the very
bottom of the insects, or at" the top of the ^lyria-

poda. Among these points may be mentioned that
there is (1) no metamorphosis; (2) the ej^es are
mostly groups of ocelli ; (3) there are extra-abdomi-
nal appendages in some, which answer the purpose
of feet ; (4) and a. few species among the Poduradse
are believed to breathe througli the skin, without
the assistance of tracherc at all.

But I must pass away from generalities, and
attendjto my[primary object, — viz., to enable readers
to identify their captures, and to guess if any
thysanurous insect they may find is to be sus-
pected of being unknown to Science or to the
British fauna.

\i.

Fig:. 1S4. Japx, from the American Naturalist, April, IS,"!.

For the figures of Japyx and Campodea, I have
borrowed two of Dr. Packard's illustrations to the
article in the American Kataralid I have above
alluded to. llecently, I had a few specimens of
the latter, and I am under the impression that I
have, at a period when I could hardly distinguish a
beetle from an earwig, seen Japyx frequently.

If my memory serves me right, I used to see it
in damp mould suddenly turned up with a spade or
a trowel, and I used to think then that the colonies
I disturbed were larval earwigs, a mistake which
a glance at the illustration will show is easily made.
The specimens of Campodea, four in number, which
I had given me lately, were of creamy-white colour,
apparently eyeless, and extremely fragile; never-
theless they were amazingly active, aud sensitive
to the influence of light. They would dash about
tlie cell containing them whenever I brought it

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

273

out for observation, and at last three of them met
a sad eud. One day I wished to shift and clean the
cover, and they quickly seized the opportunity to
escape. If they had all run in one direction, I
might have secured them again ; but they ran four
ways, and in my nervousness I only got one back
into the cell, minus a few joints of the antennse and
caudal filaments. The rest got miserably crushed.

Fig. 185. Campodea, from the Ameri
April, ISJI.

•itn Naturalist,

and were only fit to use as food for the one I re-
tained. Shortly after this little escapade, my cap-
tive changed its skin, a process similar to what
takes place with many other creatures : the skin
burst down the middle of the thorax, on the dorsal
surface, and the insect wriggled itself out. The
specimens I am alluding to were found in a cellar
in London, and were just a sample of myriads that
the removal of an old boiler forced to seek fresh
quarters,

Lcpisma sacchar'ma is the little creature known
to the vulgar as the "Fish-moth." It lives in old
houses, and is very desti'uctive to paper and books
in damp libraries. I have seen documents nibbled
in places to the thinness of tissue-paper, and with
numerous holes, produced from drawers where
their owner had placed them in a perfect state a
year or so before, the destruction being entirely
the work of the L. saccharlna. I once found a very
large colony in the interior of a small loaf of bread
which had lain unobserved in a cupboard for some
weeks. And I have watched them with much
interest (as a youngster) cunningly at dusk come
forth from the hearthstone, to seek the crumbs
under the kitchen table, and as knowingly retire in
the morning to the shelter of the hearthstone.

I have kept L. saccJuirhia for prolonged periods
in my cork cells, and have strong suspicions that it
brings forth its young alive in couples, for on more

than one occasion two small young ones, perfectly
destitute of scales, and of creamy whiteness,
have suddenly appeared, when, a few hours pre-
viously, I had no reason to suppose the cell had
other occupants than a couple of adults. Sir J.
Lubbock, however, has suggested to me as a
caution, that possibly the female is able to carry her
eggs about with her for some time previous to
their hatching.

Kig. 186. Lepisma sacchariau, x 8.

The colour of the Lepisma sacchurinu is of a silver-
grey, and it is about one-third of an inch in length.
The eyes are in two groups, of twelve ocelli in each,
situated at the sides of the head, near its junction
with the thorax.

I have never seen but one British species. Two
others — importations from West Africa and
Bombay respectively — have been given me by W. T.
Loy, Esq., in a living state. The former was much
whiter than our English species, though its scales
were very similar ; and the latter was a speckled
insect, its colours being black, brown, and drab
without any iridescence. The scales are very beau-
tiful objects under high power, and different from
L. saccharlna. It may be in the recollection of some,
that the scale of Lepisma saccharlna has, with other
thysanurous scales, been a bone of contention of
late. Dr. Pigott having attacked Mr. E. Beck's
interpretation of its structure. We have had cor-
rugations, beads, and barley-sugar markings almost
ad nauseam.

Petrobius is, so far as I am aware, represented in
Britain by only two species ; one frequenting our
coasts, and the other damp, stony inland places.
The eyes in both occupy the whole front of the

?74

HAKDWICKE'S SCI EN CE-GO S S IP.

head, and are more insect-like than in the rest of
the Thysanuradse. The females in both species are
furnished with ovipositors; that of the marine
species is of extreme lengtli, but the few specimens
I have seen of the inland one ^have had much
smaller developments of this, and indeed of all the
tllamentous limbs.

Fig. 18/". Inland Petrobius, x 8, from North Wales
and Devonshire.

Tlse marine species carries its antenna? out
straight before it, while the inland species doub'.es
them over its shoulders, so to speak.

Fig. 188. Petrobius inanlimiis x 8.

When turning over the stones at the foot of the
cliffs of the Dorset coast, one often comes across
the homes of P. maritimus. Under tliese circum-

stances, they are found in dozens, to say the least
of it. Attached to the stones one turns up, too, are
found the exuvife in abundance, looking almost
lifelike ; and these, while the frightened creatures
are jumping frantically in various directions, mystify
the eye of the inexperienced, and make him faucy
the Petrobius is there iu hundreds.

To catch the living insects, then, needs no little
dexterity, as they are wary and active to a sur-
prising degree.

Petrobius is, however, fond of wandering over
the rocks iu the sunshine, and when thus met
singly, he may be coaxed iuto a test-tube by means
of a camel-hair brush, without much trouble.
You must be cautious in your approach, liowever,
for if alarmed, he will jump and run from rock to
rock so nimbly, that your shins and ankles will
probably suffer if you follow him up.

1 suppose the Petrobius feeds chiefly at night
upon the decaying seaweeds, and other rejectamenta
of the deep, which are within easy walking distance
of his dwelling. I guess this because I have never
seen them feeding, and have been always unable to
keep them alive long in confinement— not more
than a day or two. A fine large specimen will die
in a few hours if shut up in a bottle or a large cell.
In colour, the P. maritimus is of a warm brown,
with dark patches and olive-green reflections.

The scales are very various in their appearance,
and very beautiful. So also are those of the inland
Petrobius ; indeed I think they are the best, though
they are very sirailai- to those of P. maritimus.
The colour of the inland, species is vexy similar to
the marine one : my specimens, from North Wales
and Devonshire respectively, were, if anything,
rather the darkest.

The specimens sent me from North Wales were
found under stones, and my Devonshire specimen
was caught after harvesting, at the bottom of a van
which had been emptied of its load of corn, amid
beetles and other creeping things galore.

I hope shortly to renew the subject, and submit
some notes respecting the remainder of the Thy-
sanuradse. S. J. McIxtire.

SNAKE-STONES.

T) Y this term, gentle reader, we do not mean the
■^-^ porous bodies, commonly so called, which Sir
Emerson Tennent and others have shown to be used
by the natives of Ceylon and elsewhere for the pur-
pose of absorbing the poison from snake-wounds.
In Scott's " Marmion " may be found a traditiuiuil
reference to quite another kind of " Snake-Stones ":

" And how the nuns of Whitby told
How of the countless snakes, each oiie
Was turned iuto a coil of stone,
W^lien holy Hilda prayed.
Themselves, within their sacred bounds,
Their stonv coils had often found."

HARDWICKE'S S OIKN CE-GOSSIP.

275

To tliis day, in the iieiglibouiliood of Scarborough
£P.d Whitby, the fossil Ammoniles which are so
abundant and characteristic in the Lias and lower
Oolitic formations, go by the name of "Snake-
stones," or " Petrified Snakes." You may see them
in the lapidaries' shops named as such, and not uu-
iVequently having casts of snakes' heads attached to
them— the latter being a "restoration," perhaps.

Fig. I89. Ammonites commiiiiin.

Fig-. 190. Side view.

on a par with '," restorations " generally ! The
commonest species selected for this purpose are
Aiiimonites annulatm or A. communis, ■whose closely
ringed whorls strongly resemble coiled-up snakes —
hence the legend.

What are these common and beautiful fossils ?
There are no fewer than five hundred species known
to geologists, ranging, in geological time, from the
Lias to the Chalk formations inclusive. Few fossils
are more beautiful, each species having a distinct
ornametttation, and, perhaps, even each stage of

will have seen, are straight and simple along their
edges, and the siphuncle, or air-tube, runs down
the centre of each chamber, and connects them all
together.

The Ammonites were first cousins to the Nautilus.
Before their appearance in the seas of the Liassic
epoch, their place had been occupied by a kindred
group, called Ceratites. Instead of having the
chambers straight, however, the Ammonites had
theirs foliated or serrated very ornately and com-
plexly along their edges. In the Goniatites, -which
abound in the carboniferous limestone, these cham-
bers are angled— hence the name of the genu.s. In
the Ceratites, which are characteristic of the Trias
formation, the edges of the chambers are foliated,
but not so intricately as in the Ammonites, whilst
that part which projected towards the mouth of the
shell was tolerably simple. It is a significant fact
that the young Ammonites greatly resemble the
Ceratites, losing this resemblance as they got older.
The geographical distribution of the Ammonites
is very great. They are found in the secondary
rocks of Europe, South Africa, America, India, and
the West Indies.

Fig. 191 . Ammonites o/itimtis. Fig. 192. Side view.

individual growth. Their name of Ammonite is
derived from the Cornu Ammoius, or " Jupiter -
Amnion's" horn, by which they were known among
the ■virtuosi of a century ago. Their natural history
relations, however, are with the Nautilus, which
beautiful family is now approaching extinction,
having been in existence since Silurian times. The
chambers of the common Nautilus, as our readers

Fig. 193. Ammonites hifrons.

Fig. 194. Side view of ditto.

At present a good deal of artificial arrangement
exists among these interesting fossils, and it is
known that different species have been so classed
which arc really nothing but the distinct and various
stages of marked individual growth. They arc
roughly divided into six groups, as follows : — 1. The
back marked by an entire keel ; 2. Back crenated ;
3. Back sharp ; 4. Back channelled ; 5. Back
squared ; and 6. the back round or convex.

The largest of these "Snake-stones" occur in tlie

276

HARDWiCKE'S SCIENCE- GOSSIP.

Portland beds, where they are often four feet in
diameter. Their size thus unfitted them for rapid
locomotion, and it is known that they were provided
with a means of closing the mouth of the " body-
chamber" by opcrcula. The latter are occasionally
met with separately, and have had the distinct name
of Aptychm, or Trigonellites, given to them. The
seas of the Lias and Oolite must have literally
swarmed with these beautiful objects, for the Lias
limestone is often made up of their shells alone, and
the black colour is probably due to the decomposi-
tion of the animal matter of the soft-bodied parts.
The moment you strike these rich fossiliferous
limestones with your hammer, the blow volatilizes
a portion of this oil, and its sidphuretted odour
greets your nostrils, and tells you plainly that these
solid rocks are nothing but sepulchres of forgotten
dead ! The Lias and lower Oolite beds in England
are often marked by the prevalence of distinct
species of Ammonites, so that they serve as good
indices to the geological position of a stratum.
When cut open, the cbambers of these fossils are
seen partly hollow, and partly filled with crystals of
carbonate of lime, darkly coloured, perhaps, with
organic matter. When the shells are more solid,
they are manufactured into brooches, &c., and go
by the name of ''• Shell Opal."

J. E. Taylor.

MICROSCOPY.

MicnoGEAruiCAL DiGTioxARY.— A Correspond-
ent asks — " Might not a word from you in Science-
Gossip bring the editors or publishers of the
edition of 'The Micrographical Dictionary,' now
in course of publication, to a sense of their negli-
gence in bringing out that publication so slowly
and irregularly ? No part has appeared since May
last ! Can it be that it is not intended to complete
it?"— /r.Z.iV.

Bunt of Wheat as a Lens (Translation).—
In looking over your interesting journal, Science-
Gossip, which I have taken for some time through
my bookseller, I find, on page 92, in the volume
for 1S71, a very curious note from your correspou.
dent "P. W. M.," under the title of "Bunt of
Wheat as a Lens." It relates to an arrangement by
means of which the eye of a beetle, mounted in
balsam, and placed under the microscope, shows in
each facet the image of a small object. Without
stopping to consider the principal object of the
above note— whether the fungus Tlllclia caries
possesses the same optical property,— I should like
to ask your correspondent if he would direct mc
how to operate with the reticulated eye of an insect,
so as to obtain, under the microscope, multiplied
views. I do not think that an ordinary preparation

would be sufficient. What means should I take to
obtain my desired object':' I venture to count'oa
the courtesy of the author of the note referred to'to
help me, and I address myself also to any other
microscopist who would kindly give me any
assistance. — A. M., Paris.

Mounting in Balsam ORDA:\tMAR.— It is'much
to be regretted that directions for mountnig in soft
balsam or dammar should still require to be given.
Cuticles, insects, sections of wood, horn, transparent
injections, &e., can all be mounted in hard balsam
without the slightest difficulty. The most important
condition is that the balsam should be new, or, at
least, uncontaminated with turpentine, benzole, or
chloroform. Tlie plan I adopt is as follows : — Place
a drop (or as much balsam as is necessary) on the
centre of a glass slide; heat it (taking care to avoid
boiling the balsam) until the balsam, when cold,
can be scarcely indented with the nail ; take the
preparation out of the turpentine (draining off the
superfluous turpentine); place it on the centre of
the hardened balsam ; allow it to remain a few-
seconds, or until it sinks a little into the balsam :
now drop a minute quantity of soft balsam on it
and place the covering glass, slightly warmed, on
the soft balsam — this, if properly managed, will
cause it to spread over the preparation, and gene-
rally over the surface of the hardened balsam : now
place the cover and slide between a wire clip ; gently
warm the whole over a spirit-lamp : the heat and
pressure will drive out the superfluous soft and
hard balsam. When cool, the waste balsam may be
scraped off, and the slide cleaned with a little spirit
of wine and ammonia. There may be some very
exceptional specimens where the slightest amount
of heat would be injurious, and then, if balsam or
dammar is used in the soft state, the cover (a square
one is best) should be protected by a piece of
gummed black paper the width of the cover, and
about half an inch larger, with a hole punched in
tlie centre. This will prevent the cover slipping,
a disaster usually befalling soft balsam slides.
Balsam or dammar never hardens under the cover,
and if the cover is rubbed or pressed it invariably
shifts, or the medium exudes, and the slide becomes
a sticky abomination. My own slides may be rubbed
with a piece of chamois leather between the finger
and thumb, without receiving the slightest injury.
—F. lutton.

An Eightieth OujECTivE.-At a recent meeting
of the Quekett Microscopical Club, held at Univer-
sity College, ^h\ Thomas Powell attracted consider-
able attention by the exhibition of an eightieth of
an inch object-glass made by himself. Of course,
under the circumstances of its being exhibited in a
public room, it was not possible to test this glass very
severely, but it appeared to perform well, defining

HAHDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

277

the podura test sliarply ami witliout colour, and
having plenty ol' light. Its magnifying power is i,000
diameters with the A eye-piece, with an angular
aperture of 160°; it bears the B and C eye-pieces,
with no other detriment than some loss of light,
and works well through covering glass '003 thick_
Should Mr. Powell be able to produce these glasses,
they promise to be an important addition to our
microscopic powers. — //. 11.

Coal Section.— Can any contributor kindly say
if there is any way of judging what piece of coal is
likely to form a good section ; as you may try a good
many without getting a decided vegetable struc-
ture ?— ^. T. Scoti.

A SiNGULAK Plotifer.— We should have stated,
in our notice of Pedalion mira of last month, that
this object was llrst figured and described in the
Monthly Microscopical Journal of September, 1S71,
where the reader will find a detailed account of it.

ZOOLOGY.

The Exploring Expedition, under the charge
of Professor Wyville Thomson, was to sail in tlie
middle of November. The vessel fitted out for this
purpose is the Challenger, of 2,30G tons burden,
commanded by Captain Nares. The scientific staff
of the expedition includes: Professor Wyville Thom-
son, P.ll.S., Director ; Mr. J. J. Wild, of Zurich ;
Mr. J. Y. Buchanan, Chemist to the Expedition ;
Mr. H. N. Moseley, M.A., Naturalist; Dr. Von
Willemoes Suhm, of Munich, Naturalist ; and
Mr. John Murray, Taxidermist. Dr. Willemoes
Sulim and Mr. Moseley undertake the Invertebrata,
and Mr. Murray the Vertebrata; Mr. Moseley also
undertakes the duties of botanical collecting, &c.
An experienced photographer also accompanies the
party. The Challencjer has been specially litted for
the work, with two engines of 400 horse-power
each ; and stages amidship from which the dredges
will be worked. Several hundred miles of the best
whaling line have been prepared for dredging, and
the vessel carries out with her no fewer than forty
dredges. The route, which is not yet definitely
fixed, is supposed to be as follows:— The Challenger
will probaljly go round to Porlsmouth, and sail from
thence in the beginning of December for Gibraltar,
the first haul of the dredge being made in the Bay
of Biscay, if the weather should chance to be
favourable. Prom Gibraltar she will proceed to
]\Iadeira, thence to St. Thomas, the Bahamas, Ber-
muda, the Azores ; from thence to Bahia, touching
at Fernando Norohua ; then across to the Cape of
Good Hope, and, after a stay in that neighborhood,
southwards to the Crozctts and Marion Islands and
Kerguelen's Laud. A run southwards will then be
made as far as possible to the ice, and the course

theuce be made to Sydncj', New Zealand. The
Campbell and Auckland groups, Torres Straits.
New Guinea, and New Ireland will then be visited,
A long cruise of perhaps a year will then be made
amongst the Pacific Islands; thence the expedition,
passing betwen Borneo and Celebes, and visiting
Luzon and its neighbourhood, will proceed to Japan,
where a stay of two or three mouths is expected.
Thence northward to Kamtschatka, whence a run
will be made northwards through Bchring's Straits,
and then through the Aleutian Islands, southward
to Vancouver's Island, and so through the deep
eastern region of the Pacific by Easter Island, and
possibly by the Galapagos Archipelago to the Horn,
and thence home. The voyage is expected to take
about three and a half years.

IIed Viper {Pelias bents). — Allow me to record
in your pages the capture of a specimen of this
viper at Cheeton, a few miles from hence, last
month. It measures about eleven inches in length,
being about the size of that mentioned in Bell's
" British Beptiles," p. 67, and the colouring very
bright. I shall be obliged if any of your corre-
spondents can inform me whether or not this variety
is generally distributed throughout the British
isles. — E. B. Kemp-Welch, Bourneuioulh.

Popular Natural History. — An interesting
and well got-up brochure has been issued by
Messrs. Millikin and Lawley, giving a series of
Popular Lectures for the Magic Lantern. In
addition to the general historical and other subjects,
a large portion is devoted to astronomical, geo-
graphical, and natural history questions. The
illustrations for the latter have been selected from
typical and well-known forms, so that the teaching
of the leading principles of zoology has been
reduced to its simplest elements. The descrip-
tions of "Underground Life," as shown in coal
and metal mines, are particularly good, and these
include a good deal of geological phenomena.

A Fly 5[istaken for an Annelid.— The flies
in the bottle sent were bred, the one from a larva
which is the supposed Annelid, iJiplolis hjalina of
Montague, the other from a pupa found at the
same time and place. Montague mistook the head
of the grub for its tail, the two ear-like append-
ages being at the anal extremity. I found it
pretty abundant among drifts, sea-weed, &c., at
high-water mark, in company with Orchestia litto-
rulis, at Colwyn Bay, in October. It struck me at
once that it was probably the larva of one of the
numerous flies on the sea-weed. One lived som.e
hours in salt water, but seemed very helpless, and
out of its clement. The anal appendages might
perhaps be suckers, by which the grub attaches
itself to sea-weed at high tides, to avoid being
washed away, but I must say that it did not use

27S

11 A K D VV i C K E ' S S C 1 E N C E - G 0 S S I P .

ilieni ill a glass Lottie, full of sea water. I regret

that I did not examine the laiTaundcrtliemicroscope

hv.t have no doubt I can get more next summer if

iiot now. An\how the genus I^i/j/o^/s is disposed

of! Montague describes and figures Diplolis in,

I think, vol, xi. of the "Journal of the Proceedings

of the Linnean Society." He remarks on its

resemblance to the larva of au insect. Gosse

includes it among his doubtful genera of areuicolous

Amiclids.— ./^//>6y/ 0. IFalker.

Provincial Societies. — We have received
several numbers of "The Yorkshire Naturalists'
Recorder," which is devoted to reporting the meet-
ings of natural history societies iu Yorkshire and
the neighbourhood, and to such notes and queries
and general observations as come under the notice
of or interest local naturalists. It is well conducted,
and cannot fail to stir up au enthusiasm in the
study of nai ure. We want more attention tobegiveu
to tlie fauna and flora of each neighbourhood. The
"Proceedings of the Bristol Naturalists' Society,"
from Jauuary to May, 1872, contains some good
papers, but few devoted to the natural history of
the neighbourhood. It seems strange to find
a paper on "Australian Possils" in such a pub-
lication as this. The "Anthropology of the Danu-
bian Region," although by such a good ethno-
logist as- Dr. Beddoc, would, we think, have been
better iu a journal devoted to such subjects. One
naturally associates the botany and zoology of a
district with the " Proceedings " of a local society
devoted to such studies, and is apt to be disappointed
when we find every other subject treated but those
we wished to see. The ninth annual Report of the
Belfast Naturalist Field Club is much better iu this
respect, although it is not free from the same tempta-
tiou. The strength and enthusiasm of the society
is well indicated by the number of its excursions
during the last summer, all of which are very well
described. Anioug the most important papers are
" Au Inquiry into the Possibility and Probability
of the Occurrence of Coal in the Neighbourhood of
Bellast," by Mr. William Gray ; " The Geology of
Cultra, CO. Down," by Mr. Joseph Wright ; "A
Day with the Oyster-dredgers," by .Mr. S. A. Stewart;
"Giants' Graves," by Dr. Ilolden.

BOTANY.

lusxcT Agency on Plants.— A very suggestive
article appears in the Journal of Botany for No-
vember, by Mr. A, W. Bennett, on the Influence
of Insect Agency on the Distribution of Plants.
Mr. Leo. Grindon had shown that there is a general
absence from the neighbourhood of Manchester of
fragrant labiates— in fact, of every labiate that
yields a powerful odour, except Stachys sijhatlcct,

and this is regarded as suggestive of the absence
of fertilizing agencies, iu the shape of insects, that
are attracted by these flowers. There are no known
climatic reasons for the absence of these common
plants, and Mr. Bennett recommends that particular
notice be taken by local botanists and entomologists
of the part played by insects in the fertilization of
our common plants. He shows that a list of the
insects that have been observed to be active in the
fertilization of our common wild flowers would be
of the utmost value.

Epipactis palustris and E. latipolia. —
In a recent number these two plants are considered
of Rufiicient rarity (particularly the first) to be
worthy a special notice. In the romantic Castle
Eden Dene, Durham, both these plants are to be
found iu abundance, particularly E. latifolia, which
may be gathered by the wayside ; the palustris is
to be searched for in dam. p and boggy spots; but
what I have always considered a much rarer plant
is the E. cnsi/oUa, which is to be found there
flowering in the end of May or beginning of June
and its white flowers are most conspicuous in the
spots where it grows. Perhaps there are few spots
in England so rich in botanical treasures as Castle
Eden Dene. I have seen in this favoured spot not
only the plants I have" named, but also the Ely
Orchis (0. ?/V«.si? //«■/•«), theButterfly Orchis (0. ii/oZ/rt),
0. pjjramidaUs, the Bird's-nest Orchis (Z. nidus-
avis), and the still rarer and curious Lady's Slipper
(6'. calceolus). If any south-country botanist were
to devote a day to ramble in Castle Eden Dene, he
would fiud a great treat in store for him. The
graceful Lily of the Valley there grows in wild
luxuriance, [clothing in mauy places considerable
spaces with its elegant leaves, and when they arc
in flower, perfuming the air with their fragrance.
As the summer advances, the elegant and sweet-
smelling Pi/rola rotumlifolia is to be found in
several places ; but it would take a larger space
than I can ask for iu this instance to enumerate all
the botanical and entomological varieties to be
found iu Castle Eden Dene.— r. /. B., Fernjhill,
Durham.

PoTENTiLLA FRUTICOSA.— Has a stray individual
plant of this rare species ever been seeen on the
Durham or northern bank of the Tees ? I have
looked all along this side where the river brink M-as
accessible, and did not meet with so much as au
accidental waif (stray plant). "Ad ripam meridio-
nalem Tesa} fluvii infra vicum Thorp dictum variis
iu locis necnon infra ccenobium Athclstani vulgo
Eggleston Abbeylin agro Eboracensi." — Dillcnius,
in Raji Sfnopsin, 25G. Where are Thorp hamlet and
Eggleston Abbey ? Compare Dillcnius' edition of
Ray's Synopsis; also Jcnkiuson's and Robson's
Eloras. This rare British species is found, I believe
as low as Winch Bridge, halfway from Middletonto

HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE-GOSSIP.

279

Micklc Force. At tlie latter station it is plentiful,
and tliere are a few good colonies opposite Weddy-
bank, only on the Yorkshire or south bank of the
Tees.— z/. I., 28, Upper Manor Street, Chelsea.

London Okchids.— Certain species of the Or-
chid family have recently been detected in places
where they hitherto have been neither seen nor
reported ; viz. : 1. Epipactis palitstris in Surrey,
not niore than four or five miles from the metro-
polis. E. pv.rpurata ( ? a provisional name), still
grows in the flower-beds and lawn of Chace Cot-
tage, near Enfield. This fact has been already
reported. Recently it has got two other fair com-
panions, tIz., E. latifolla and Llslera ocata (Tway
blade). These are the remains of^the ancient Chace
flora. — A. I., Chelsea.

METAMOnrnosis of Organs in Lophospeb-
3iUTii. — I beg to subjoin particulars of a Lopjho-
spenmim, in which every part of the flower has in
turn been converted into a leaf: calyx, corolla,
stamens, pistils, seeds. AH the annexed modifi-
cations occnrr.ed in one plant, except the extra
petal. Lophosper>mm : Nat. order Scrophidariaceee.
Characteristics of normal flower— Calyx : sepals 5,
edges entire, convex towards corolla. Corolla :
tubular, 5-cIeft, red-purple. Stamens : 4, and 1
minute anther, 2 discs. As modified by metamor-
phosis— Calyx : («) sepals 4 ; {b) unsymmetrical ;
{c) with central streak of red ; {d) flat ; {e) like
stem-leaves, with serrated edges, and on leaf-stalks.
Corolla : {a) absent, or rudimentary ; {b) green ;
((?) an extra strap-shaped petal {'i in. by yV in.),
red, springing from outer upper edge of ovary, by
side of upper sepal ; (f/) 5 separate leaves on leaf-
stalks ; {e) split along top. Stamens : {a) when
corolla split, anthers enlarged, consisting of ovals
forming an arrow-head ; (b) minute ; {c) filament
short, anthers dark ; {d) anthers, leaves with ser-
rated edges; {e) anthers streaked with red. Pistil:
(fl) long, bearing leaves at extremity ; {b) bearing
leaves and abortive flowers. Ovary : («) bunches
of small leaves, with serrated edges, on footstalks.
Stem-leaves : (a) tinged with red. Proliferous
varieties — sepals on footstalks, flowers springing
from axils : («) central axis bearing alternate
leaves li^e the stem, with terminal flowers; {b)
central axis bearing at the end seven calyces fitting
closely into each other : within the central one a
modined dwarfed corolla with an augmented num-
ber of stamens ; small corollas on stems groM'ing
from between these calyces. In the most modified
form, where calyx, corolla, stamens, pistil, and
seeds, were all leaves on footstalks, serrated and
shaped like the cauliuc leaves ; the fact of their
representing these parts was only evident from the
leaves all springing from the same plane, instead of
being placed at intervals along the stem. It was,
in fact, the condensed, bushy head, terminating

some of the stems, that first drew attention to the
plant. — T. ]). Siiieatoii, Adelaide, South Australia.

SixGULAU Scabious (p. 258).— I find two speci-
mens in my herbarium somewhat similar to that
described by " T. B. W." One, gathered near Chel-
tenham about twenty years ago, has the umbel
composed of eleven small heads, on very long
stalks, in addition to the central and principal head.
In the other case (from Esher, Surrey, 1846), there
is a single head only, on a short stalk, issuing from
the base of the true head of flowers. These are
the only instances I have met with in this plant of
the proliferous or "Hen-and-Chickens " form of
growth, — W. jr. Spicer, Itchen Abbas.

Kew IlEKBAKiUii. — It is stated that upwards of
one hundred and ten thousand species of flovrering
plants alone are preserved in the Herbarium at
Kew.

GEOLOGY.

An American Possil Lion. — Prof. Leidy has
described a new species of lion under the name of
Eclis uugi'.stus, from teeth and fragments of jaws
discovered in Nebraska. The most characteristic
specimen is an upper sectional molar as large as
that of i,he Bengal tiger.

A Modern Trilobite.— It is stated by tiic
American. Journal of Science that Professor Agassiz
discovered, on the 12th of February last, about
forty leagues to the east of Cape Prio, whilst
dredging at a considerable depth, a crustacean,
with a great number of rings, and whicli v. as three-
lobed ; thus possessing some of the chief distinctive
m arks of the ancient trilobites. The name of Tomo-
carls Peircei has been given to the animal.

Porosity of Soils.— The porosity of soils could
not long be preserved if the mineral dust were not
agglutinated into granules by some substance act.
ing as a cement, such as vegetable mould, or clay
coagulated by lime salts. The required proportion
of the latter is ascertained by mixing known weights
of levigated clay with sand or chalk, drying till the
still moist mass crumbles in the fingers, and be-
sprinkling it very gently for three or four days with
water containing traces of lime salts. "With proper
quantities of clay the soil preserves its character ;
in other cases it is softened, and becomes imper-
meable. Por one hundred parts of sand, about
eleven of clay are required ; for chalk, a slightly
larger amount. If, instead of clay, soluble or in-
soluble humates be used, it will be found that one
per cent, of humic acid with lime or clay (or two
per cent, if strongly dried and pounded) will enable
the earth to resist a long washing. In light soils
vegetable mould, by means of its humates, con-

280

IIARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

solidates their particles ; whilst in heavy ones, by
its organic debris, it destroys their solidity and im-
penetrable character, in both cases maiataining for
some time the porosity of the soil.

The Divinixg-Eod.— Mr. H. B. Woodward
mentions, in the last number of the Geological
Magazine, that on the Mendip Hills the divining-
rod is still used. He went a short time ago to the
little hamlet of Gurney Slade, uear Oakhill, to look
at a shaft that had been sunk for iron-ore. Several
trial holes liad been sunk, and some of these had
been made at the instigation of the divining-rod—
we need hardly sny without success.

IS'ew Species of Geaptolites.— In the Xov.
number of the Geological Magazine, Mr. John Hop-
kinsou, r.G.S., describes and figures several new
species of graptolites. The iirst is named Conj-
■iwides gracilis, which genus Professor Nicholson
regarded as allied to our recent tubularians. The
other species are Dendrograptus ramulus, Grapto-
lithas acutus, Diplograptus pinguis, 1). finihriatns,
J), llinclcsii, and Dicranograpltis rectus. AH the
above new species have been obtained from the
Llandeilo rocks of the South of Scotland.

"Valleys, Deltas, Bays, and EsTUAiiiEs"is
tbe title given by Dr. Ricketts, F.G.S., to his presi-
dential address to the Liverpool Geological Society.
The doctor is well known as an ardent and enthu-
siastic field-geologist, and this address proves he is
equally well up in the literature of the science, and
knows how to apply its principles to his own ob-
servations.

The Glacial Period ix Ireland. — Messrs^
Kinabau & Close have just published a little work
on the " General Glaciatiou of lar-Connaught and
its Neighbourhood," in the counties of Galway and
Clare. It is accompanied by a large map, elaborately
wrought, in whicli is shown the directions of
the glacial strite. The hardest rocks are shown to
be scored, scratched, and furrowed, often to a con-
siderable depth. The glaciating agent is believed
to be land ice. The streams of boulders are seen
to flow in every direction from a small central area.
Too much praise cannot be awarded to the authors
for their excellent and easily-understood map, or
for the clear and logical manner with whicii the
phenomena arc briefly described.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Potato Disease. — Docs not the plan practised
by Mr. E. T. Scott, Norwich, of putting sand
round potatoes in planting them, tend to confirm,
in some measure, the theory of the Rev. Mr. Moule,
as observed by \Y. T. Thisclton Dyer, B.A., frc,
in his paper which appeared in the last number of
SciENC E-Gossu' ? Again, I would ask, is it not in

such -counties as Cheshire, where the soil is-
characteristically sandy, that we obtain potatoes of
the finest quality, and as a rule, too, of the healthiest
kind "^—Johii Harrison, Neiccastlc-on-Tyne .

CojoiENTs ON Collecting and Setti.vg Lepi-
doptera. — It is true that " there is a right and a
wrong way of doing everything." I should there-
fore strongly advise inexperienced entomologists
not on any account to set their Icpidoptera in the-
manner prescribed by "P. E. A." in the November
number of Science-Gossip, for a collection that
would otherwise be valuable would, if set on flat
boards, be rendered wortldess. As far as ap-
pearance is concerned, I think the preference due
to Icpidoptera set upon boards with curved sur-
faces. Surely "P. E. A." is mistaken when he
says that this is the old way of setting; on the
contrary, the way he recommends is remarkably
old, whilst entomologists of the present generation
set their Icpidoptera on the plan recommended by
Dr. Ivnaggs, than whom entomologists could not
easily find a better adviser in pursuing their
studies. If setting Icpidoptera on llat boards were
the best method, 1 would ask "P. E. A." why the-
Icpidoptera in our public museums are not set in
that way, and also why our great authorities do-
not set "theirs on flat boards? It is within the
experience of most collectors that the wings of
Icpidoptera would not droop when taken off the
boards if the insects were allowed to remain on for
a sufficient length of time. As to wooden setting-
boards, they arc out of the question, as they would
turn the points of the strongest of entomological
pins, therefore, cork setting-boards alone should
be used ; but their surfaces need not be rougli, for
any ingenious youth can make them perfectly
smooth for himself with a little care. If collecting-
boxes be made of cardboard, they are liable to get
broken when in the pocket, which would be very
provoking if they contained anything rare. Allow
me then to recommend zinc pocket boxes, the cork
inside being kept moist, will prevent the specimens
from bccomnigstilf beforethey can be set._ Andflnally,
if chloroform be used for killing Icpidoptera, many
charming specimens will be utterly spoiled, as it
imparts a stilfness to the wings which cannot be
remedied. A jar containing bruised laurel-leaves
would be found better for the killing of Icpidoptera,.
if a bottle containing cyanide of potassium is not
obtainable. — //. A. Auld.

Sagacity of Birds. — h. curious incident oc-
curred the other day. -\ gentleman was seated
in his summer-house, when he was startled by a rus-
tling noise behind him. On looking round, he beheld
half a dozen or so of common sparrows swooping
down upon his cat, which was doubtless watching
their movements, in the hope of a sumptuous re-
past. But this time Tommy was as mistaken as
he was unprepared, for the birds dashed at him,
and he inunediatcly turned tail and rushed into the
house ; one of the plucky young birds went into
the house after him, and poor unnerved Tom was
found ultimately crouched in great terror beneath a
bed unstairs. This is a remarkable thing, showing
the sagacity in these courageous little London
sparrows. It is the same species of reason doubtless
discernible in horses, when they form a body-
guard against approaching enemies.— //'. S. Palmer.

Self-heal.— Can any of your readers kindly
favour me with some account (including the origin
of the name " Selt'-hcal") of the plant referred to

HARDWICKE'S S C IE M GB- GOS SIP.

281

in tlic following quotation from Emerson's works
(Bell & Daldy), vol. i., " Nature," pngc ;235 : "All
over the wide fields of enrtli grows the prunella, or
Self-heal " 'i— Albert C. Keen.

SrosGE Sand. — Some of your readers who, like
myself, arc beginners in microscopy, may be glad
to" know that the sand from the bottoms of spcnge-
jurs is sometimes full of foraminifera. The sand
"can be obtained from any oilman, and it is very
good practice in delicacy of touch to lake them out
on a damp needle-point under the compound micro-
scope without an erector. I got the hint from
Davies's " Pre])aring and Mounting," but he only
mentions spicules as being found iu it. — /. R. Daries.

Keeping Curysalids.— 1 quite concur with_
your correspondent H. Miller as to his mode of
''keeping chrysalids." I have for some years past
kept a large number of pupai through the winter
in the same manner. I prefer the sides of my cages
being gauze rather than wood, as the lepidoptera
can obtain a better hold of it when they emerge,
and are Ihus less liable to fall and injure them-
selves before their wings are fully developed. My
cages are constructed in a somewhat similar way to
those of your correspondent. 1 obtain a box, such
as chocolate is generally sold in, upon which I build
up a framework with a door, and over the wliole of
this I glue coarse gauze. The construction of these
cages is very simple, and they are of much more
use than elaborate glass larvaria, as they possess
the advantage of allowing a free current of
fresh air to pass through tiiem, which glass cases
do not. If " hawk-moths," or other burrowing
larva? are to be fed within them, then the earth
should be employed; but if the larvae are such as
do not burrow before assuming the pupal state, the
earth may be advantageously omitted. I feed my
larva> in dilTerent cages, and remove them when in
the pupal state, to separate ones in which 1 keep
pupa?. I find it best to keep the burrowing pupa?.
in a separate cage to the other.«, witli the earth
slightly n)oist, and placed indoors where there is no
ike— II. A. Aidd.

What are Whitebait? — Tn answer to a ques-
tion put by Mr. Lathbury, "Woreestei', respecting
whitebait, allow me to send you the following
extract from a ix'sumc of the researches of Dr. A.
Gilnther, of the British Museum, given at one of the
meetings of the Zoological Society, concerning the
distinctions between the diifercnt fish of the Herring
family. The British species of this impoitant group
are the_ Herring, the Sprat, the Pilchard (which
is identical with the sardines of the French coast),
and the two spcciesof Shad. These species are readily
distinguished from one another by the numbers of
their vcrtebme and that of their scales, the relative
position of the fins and that of the teeth. One of the
most important results arrived at by this eminent
ichthyologist is the absolute identityof the whitebait
and herring. In tlie last volume of the "Catalogue
of Fishes in the British Museum," Dr. Gilnther
describes the whitebait as a purely nominal species
introduced into science in defeienee to the opinion
of fishermen_ and gourmands, and states that all the
examples of whitebait examined by himself were
young_ herrings. The late Mr. Yarrell, who has
been followed by most naturalists, regarded white-
bait as a distinct/ fish; but the circumstances that it
has the same number of vei tebric (5G) as the mature
herrin?, the same number of lateral scales, and an
identical arrangement of fins and teeth— a combina-

tion of characters found iu no other fish— prove
conclusively.that it is the young or fry of the herring ;
moreover, an adult whitebait in roe has never been
discovered. AYith regard to the eU'ect on the supply
of herrings occasioned by the destruction of the
young fry, it is probable that the number of eggs
deposited by the mature herring is so large and dis-
proportionate to the number of fish that attain
matuiity, that a capture of a portion of the fry could
have no appreciable result in diminishing the
multitude of nuiture fish. — JoJi<i, Rejjiiohh Salter.

Queen of Spain Pritillary. — It may interest
some of your readers to learn 1ha^ I have taken
three specimens of the Queen of Spain Fritillary in
the neighbourhood of Deal, in the beginning of
October, two at Kingsdown near \V aimer, and one
among the Sandhills. — II. B. G.

South London Entomological Society. — The
mend^ers of the Soutli London Entomological
Socinty intend to hold their first annual Exhibition
on Thursday, Doe. 13, 1S72, at Dunn's Institute,
Newington Causeway. Open from 7 till 10 p.m.
Admission by tickets only, which entomologists can
obtain free fiom any of the members or from the
Secretary, /. P. Barreit, 33, Radnor Street,
Pechham, by forwarding stamped envelope.

CoMPASS-FLOWEK. — Longfellow, iu his beautiful
poem "Evangeline" makes mention of the "com,-
pass-tiower" as a plant to be found growing in the
prairies of North America : —

"'Patience!' ttie priest would say; ' liavc faith, and

thy prayer will be answered ;
Look" at this delicate plant that lifts its head from

the meadow,
Sec how its leaves all point to the north as true as

the mag;net ;
It is the c.impass-flower, that the finger of God has

suspended
Here on its fragile stalk, to direct the trave'Iers' Journey
Over the sea-like, pathless, limitless waste of the

desert.' "

It would be interesting to me, and I think to others
also of the readers of Science- Gossip," if, out of
your many correspondents, some one could say
whether such a plant is known, and if so, to give
its botanical name, and also the claims it has to the
useful properties attributed to it by "Father
Pelician ;" or, docs the flower exist only as a crea-
ture of the poet's brain ? — James Pearson, 2IU>irow.

Hedgehogs aud Chickens.— In reply to the
inquiry of Mr. W. II. McLachlan, "If the hedge-
hog was the autlior of their death ? " I beg to
inform him he doubtless was. Old hedgehogs are
destructive to small game or chickens. Wheo
staying at Catton (Norfolk) last year, my attention
Avas called one night to the very excited state of
one of the hens and the plaintive cry of her
chickens. ]\Iy brother went down, but failed to
discover anything, as he did not^ lift the coop. About
an hour afterwards I was awakened by the same
sounds. On going down myself I lifted tlie coop
and freed the hen, and then discovered, in one
corner, a large old hedgehog and under him two
young chickens partially eaten. Of course I killed
liim, and the hen reared the remainder of her brood
in peace.— i^. G. Cahltt.

Paste Eels.— I have some Paste Eels, and
should like to know if there is any way of drying
the paste, so that the eels could afterwards be gene-
rated from \i.—A.P.S.

282

HARDWICKE'S SCIBNCE-GOSSIP.

Insects on Eerns.— I had my ferns cateu off
last yeai- by insects. I asked several I'rieiuls the
best way to desti-oy them, but got no satisfactory
reply: the same occurred this month, when I pro-
cured some Schecle's prussic acid, put it into a cup
under the glass case, and, I am glad to say, it has killed
them all. I mention this as others may have the
same difficulty. The acid being a strongpoison.tliere
may be some difficulty in obtaining it ; but any
chemist would supply it for you. — Thos. Buck.

Spenser's "Heknesuaw." — In the seventh canto
of the sixth book of Spenser's "Eaerie Quccne "
these lines occur : —

"As when a cast of faulcons make their flight
At a Herueshaw, tliat lyes alolt on wing-,
Tlie whjles they stiike at him with heedless e might,
The wane foule liis bill doth backward wring."

What bird under the name of " Herueshaw " is
here referred to, and what is the origin, of its name ?
—H. Hudson.

Stings of Wasps and Bees. — In Dr. Mills's
paper on " Stings and Poison-glands of Bees and
Wasps" (Science-Gossip, 1S6S, p. liS), he
refers to the method iu which the poison from
the bag reaches the sting, passing down a groove
between tlic two lancets. Erom a preparation I
made the other day of the sting of a wasp, 1 am
inclined to think that a tube i-uns along the whole
length of the lancet from the poison-bag, with
branches to three or four teeth nearest the extre-
mity. Can any of your readers throw anv further
light on this subject ?— i?. H. N. B.

The Cambehwell Beauty.— A fine specimen
was secured, on the 15th September, so far north
as the Eorest of Glen-Tauar, Abojue, Aberdeenshire.
— Wilcehe.

Electrical Excess.— Can any meteoric cause be
given for the great amount of electricity which this
year has developed in the frequeut thunder-storms
which have manifested themselves 'i—T. C.

Setting Hymenopteua.— Can you or some of
your readers kindly inform me which is the best
way to kill and set out Hymeuoptera ? — B.

How AKE Eels Bred ?— Perhaps some of the
readers of Science-Gossip will be able to enlighten
me on the generation of eels. I have caught them
at every season of the year, and never yet met with
any sign of ova or spawn in any one, and the
question is, are they oviparous or viviparous ?
According to the "Naturalist's Cabinet," a work
published at the beginning of the present century,
they are viviparous, although other writers say the
contrary. Tliey appear to migrate to the sea (or
rivers at least) at certain times of the year, as large
quantities are taken in nets and coops in various
parts, when the streams are swollen; but I can
never detect any sign of spawn at those times, and
again in the spring-time myriads of the "fry," as
tbe young eels are called, can be seen winding' their
way against the stream in almost every Ijrook or
stream throughout the CQ\xntxy.—IIe,inj 'Bennett.

Peeserving Lizards, &c.— Is there any method
of preserving lizards, slow-worms, &c., besides
keeping them in spirits ? They are too small for
my clumsy hands to stuff, and yet I should like to
mount them in cases along with butterflies, &-c.
Any help through the medium of Science-Gossip
would oblige.— C. Kilminter.

Dyed Sections op Wood,— Having viewed with
much interest some dyed sections of wood under the
microscope, would some of the readers of Science-
Gossip kindly give me the best 'method of dyeing
them?-r. R.

Whitebait. — In reply to the query (p. 263) on
the individuality of whitebait {Clupea alba), I
think there is now no doubt of its distinctness.
Yarrell is decided on the point ; at least I think,
speaking from memory only, he is so. It is, how-
ever, quite possible that many of the young fry of
the other Clupecs are taken and consumed together
with alba. It has been a much-disputed question
in its time, the points of difference being so minute.
—B.B.Kemp-Welch.

Phosphorescence (p._3u2). — The appearance
described by "A. B. C." is by no means of uncom-
mon occurrence. I have frequently observed it, and
briefly alluded to it in Science-Gossip some years
ago {see vol. v. p. 143). 1 have also recently noticed
phosphorescence in walking over peat bogs at night,
the light, as iu the former case, only appearing
where a disturbance of the wet surface of the bog
had taken place, as by tlie pressure of the feet.
Disturbance generally seems favourable to the
development of the light of this phosphorescent
matter, or Nodilncine, as it has been called, from
whatever source it originates ; the light of the glow-
worm even shining more brightly when the animal
is touched, in this case, as also in the hydroid
Medusae, perhaps from irritation. The lightning, in
the instance mentioned at p. 262, can scarcely have
had any connection with the phenomenon; but
sometimes it is apparently otherwise, for at the
commencement of a storm, after continued fine and
calm weather, the whole sea may occasionally be
seen to be brilliantly illuminated with sparkling
points of light. Here, again, disturbance, and not
electrical influence, seems to be the cause of the
dev?elopment of the phosphorescent light. The
subject is one which might well repay careful in-
vestigation, A frequent source of phosphorescence
in the sea, the Noctiluca, is figured in Science-
Gossip, vol. i, p, 246, — John Ho2')kinson.

The Young Cuckoo. — One morning in August
last, as I was paddling up the river Stour, near
Blandford, my attention was directed to the move-
ments of a large bird perched on a rail by tlie side
of the river. As I came near, I discovered it was a
young cuckoo : whilst I waited and watched, I saw
a water-wagtail fly down and run along the rail to
the cuckoo with some insect in its mouth. As my,
curiosity was excited, I watched the bird for some
twenty minutes ; and, during that interval I wit-
nessed a repetition of the feeding process several
times. Every time the wagtail approached the
cuckco, it showed its delight by waving its wings
and uttering a faint cry of satisfaction. As I ap-
proached nearer, both birds flew off to the brancli
of a neighbouring tree, whilst the wagtail continued
to supply the hunger of the cuckoo as before. —
0. II. Bennett,

lluRAL Natural History. — The inhabitants of
Cheshire and the border Welsh counties have
another remedy {'{) which they use for the cure of
" c/»'«-cough." C'///«-cough, by the way, I have
been told, is a name which may yet be found for
this distressing malady, in old medical works even.
The cure referred to consists in this. The pitient
must receive sometliinn — a stick or a stone suffices—

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

233

from the hand of "a seventh son of a seventh son."
Many a poor mother have I met in Denbigshire,
who had rralked weary miles up a hillside with a
poor wretched child in her arms, whom she was
carrying to "Ellis Davis" for cure, the said Ellis
being renowned as the seventh son — "seventh son
and never a wench" (as they would explain the
necessary unbroken succession of so?is) "and his
father a seventh son before him." There was, and
always is, perhaps a little mystery necessary to be
observed to render suck remedies efficacious ; so in
these cases the said Ellis Davis was on no account
to have it whispered to liim that he would be
applied to, nor to see the child approaching ; and
therefore the poor little patient was mercifully
wrapped, and carefully hidden in his mother's arms
until the gifted healer was reached. Indeed, I am
inclined to think that, in the cure of some diseases,
the mystery stands for the most important element.
I was gravely told -a few days ago, by a fairly
iutelligcnt maidservant that she had frequently
worked the cure of warts on her hands by rubbing
them with a ripe sloe, if she had been able to use it
without the knowledge of any other person ; and,
further, had succeeded in hiirying the sloe privately.
Not being able to procure a ripe sloe in July, she
had tried another cure, viz., the inside of the pod
of a broad bean : this she had used and buried in
due form, when, unluckily, working in my garden, I
dug up the bean pod, and thus broke the charm,
and thwarted the cure of the unsightly excrescences.
Can you explain the origin of the terni "hollerin"
as a desiornation of a shivering iit, or a Ct of ague ?
— il/. B. Morris.

Har.vest-]5UGS. — That irritating little insect the
Harvest-bug {Leptus aidumnulis) has this year made
itself felt m greater numbers, and earlier than
usual in this neighbourhood. I shall be glad to
know if any of the correspondsnts of Science-
Gossip have noticed these facts in other places.
I find in Kirby and Speuce's Entomology, a similar
insect is found in Brazil, abounding in the rainy
season, particularly during the gleams of sunshine,
or on fine days intervening. May not the showery
weather we have had this summer have assisted
their early development with us ? — Thomas Cape.

Section-cutting (Screw versus Wedge).— A
good screw, as suggested by " C. T. N.," would
(doubtless take up much less space, and be neater
than the wedges of my machine ; but his surmise
that it would be found to answer a great deal better
is not borne out by experience. Those who try
both will not be slow_ in finding that the screw,
however good it be, will bear no comparison with
the wedge. The motion of the former being ex-
tremely slow, the substance to be cut, if it be at all
flexible, or tightly packed, will uot always "answer,"
but will resist or " gather " more or less, which, to
a beginner (for whom my paper was written), is a
most tantalizing obstacle. Now, on the other hand,
the shock imparted to the wedge by a smart tap,
projects the contents of the cylinder instantaneously
and with a " truthfulness" that is well nigli perfec-
tion. I have cut a good many sections with both
kinds of machines, and speak uot without expe-
rience.—JF. W.

Are Beecii-tuees exehpt from Ixjury by
Lightning?— In the Standard a correspondent
recently drew attention to the apparent exemption
of the beech from injury by lightning. The following
extract from his letter may interest the readers of

Science-Gossip, and, I hope, will also elicit infor-
mation on the subject : — "Many years ago, I heard,
or read, that beech-trees were never known to be
struck by lightninjr; and certainly from that time to
this I have never known an instance in my neigh-
bourhood, nor do I remember reading of one in the
daily papers, i have lived nearly all my life on the
borders of a large forest, and I have known several
oaks partially or entirely destroyed by the electric
fluid; also a smaller number of fir, elm, and ash
trees; but not a single instance of a beech-tree being
so injured. We have many fine beeches in our forest,
some of them almost isolated and towering far
above their neighbours the oaks, so that there is
nothing in their situation or height to protect
them from the thunderstorm."— J. Hopkinson.

Clifden Nonpariel.— I have in my possession
a specimen of this rare and beautiful insect {Cuto-
eala fraxmi) brought to me all alive and kicking,
taken by some young ladies on the 19th of Septem-
ber, in the neighbourhood of Slu-ewsbury. As this
insect is reputed rare, I shall feel grateful to some
reader of the Science-Gossip who may be in-
terested, if he can accouat for its appearance in
this country, or if any one else has taken it this
season. — T. Plck'm.

Larva and Ichneumons.- Can any of your '
correspondents tell mc whether they have known a
larva pierced by the microgaster surviving the
hatching of the maggot ? — M. Browning.

Lajiv^ oe the S.MALL Eggar (7?. lanestris). —
Mr. John E. Robson, of Hartlepool, in your
August number*, is under a mistake in thinking .
these larvae always separate to spin their cocoons,
as I have a whole nest, just as I cut it from the
blackthorn, where the chief of them returned to
their nest before spinning, and they are: the only
larvaj whose hairs have had an irritating effect on
my fingers, and I have handled many hairy kinds. —
M. Broioiiing.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

" Canadian Entomologist." No. 9.

"Land and AVatcr."

" Valleys, Deltas, Bays, and Estuaries." By Dr. Rioketts,
F.G.S.

" The General Glaciation of lar-Connauglit and its Ncig-h-
bourhood, in the Counties of Galvvay arkd Mayo." By
G. H. Kinahan and M. H. Close. Dublin : Hodges, Foster,
& Co.

"Colour." By Professor Church, M. A. London : Cassell
&Co.

" Ninth Annual Report of the Belfast Naturalists' Field
Club."

" Les Mondes."

" The Physical Geoloary and Geography of Great Britain."
Third Edition. By Professor Ramsay, F.R.S. London : E.
Stanford, Clearing Cross.

CoM.MU.vicATio\'s RECEivKfi from J. M. C— J. H.
J. C. H.— E. P.— C. L. W.— P. S.— W. F.— T. A. H.— II.
J. B. B.— R. L.— H. P.-W. S., Jun.— R. P.— A. R.
B.G. C.-G. M.— A. P. S.— T. B— H E. F.— W. F. D.-
C. W. B.— M. E. W.— R. B.— J. K. J.— H. H.— J. A.
R. H. N. B.— C. R.— E. H. G.- J. W.— W. L. S.— W. C
H. G.— A. v.— E. J. W.— T. C— T. R.— A. G.— J. S.
J. A„ Jun.-P. S.— W. V^. H.- W. B.-M. J. G.— T. J.
S. J. B.— J. R. S.— W. L. N.— J. P.— E. p. J.— T. D. S.-

— H. A. A.— A. C. K.— W. S. P.— S. S.-J. H.-H. E.
A. W.— A. H. S.— A. G —J. H. M — E. C. L.— E. B. K.
A. S.-A. I.-J. H.— E. L.-H. A. A — T. R — C. K.— G.
W. J. H.-A. C. R.-H. B.— y.S.-H.L. K.-J. H.S.— J.

— F. K.— J. C. H.— W. W. S.— T. S., Jun.— F. S.— E, W
J. H. N.— H. M. J. U.-\V. B.— R. H. W.— F. G. P.— J.
R. B., Jun.— H. B. T.— W. N.-G. R.-Dr. A. L. A.-C
H. W.

G.—

G.—

G.—

Rev.

G.-
. B.—
M.—

B —
C. E.
W.—
\V.—
M.—
P. D.

T.—
W.—

L —

2?i

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

W. L. Sargant.— Fill a good-sized flowerpot with fr.sh
sawdust of oak, elm, poplar, willow, or other wood (not
deal or pine), put the Cossiis larva into it, and cover care-
fully v.ith a flat tile or 5late, also closinjj the hole at the
bottom of the pot with a similar hard substance, and leave it
till next June. If not full-fed or in pupa then, give it another
twelvemonth. It will not require warmth.— C. G. B.

M. E. W.— T!ie in-s-ect inclosed is a Xipfiis /io/ul';ucus, a
beetle of the family Ptinidre, and always found in houses.
We can Rive no opinion as to the name of t!ie " Canary-
coloured Ephemeral Fly " either from figure or description.
Send the insect.

C. W. BiN'GHA.M. — Your specimens were Alcyrodcs phiUi/-
rice (Halliday), belonging to a small family of Homoptera,
allied to the CoccidK, but d'stinct therefrom. — TJ. M'L.

T. R.— It is not at all an unusual thing for the Vlula odorata
to bloom in the autumn. A variety has been tiained by the
horticulturists to this, as our correspondent may observe at
any florist's.

E. H. G.— The shells are— 1. Cyc/ns oni/is : 2. Pupa mns.
corum. You should get Tate's " Land and Fresh-water
Shells," illustrated with coloured plates and published by
Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly, at six shillings.

W. P.N. — The fungus "inclosed is tolerably common. It
is Caluccra viscosa.

R. H. N. 13.— Tlie objects on the backs of leaves are—
1. Eggs of a small fly ; 2. on oak-leaf, the gall of a species
of Ci/?iips; and 3. on box -leaf, merely a colourable altera-
tion of the chlorophyl.

C. L. Jacksox. — You cannot do better than advertise your
want.s in our exchange column.

Mosses. — Pennycuick. Nos. 1 and 6, Hi/pmcm denticnlutum ;
No. 5, Hypnuin loreum ; Nos. 2, .'i, and 4 had become detached.
Better specimens than these should be sent, and they ought
to be properly mounted, and not merely stuck to any sort of
paper, in a random fashion. — B.

W. 11. \VARNf;K.— The names of the beetles inc'osed in the
quill are: — 1. Apadcrt/s roruU (L.): 2. Graplodera (uiipidn.
p/iuga (probably identical with G. coryli). The galls will be
named ne^t month. Plea^;c scrid us a few for further
inquiry.

W. L. Nash. — The diatoms apiicar to be Coccoiifis sctifel-
luni ; but they are sadly intermixed with the sand. Try getting
lid of the latter by gravity.

J. II. SwALi.on'. — The ob.iects sent us from an Echinus are
the scales of small fishes, probably portion of a dead
individual on which the Ec/iiinis may have fed.

II. B. G. — Your specimen was tlie Jersey Toadfi.ix [Linaria
rvliHseriiintt).

Arthur S.mvtu. — The superstition you relate is not un-
common. For the " old sayings and doings of our ancestors,''
especially as bearing on beliefs associated with animals and
plants, see Charles Hardwick's "Traditions, Superstitions,
and Folk-lore." London, Simpkin, Marshall, & Co.

E. LovKTT. — Will you be kind enough to send another
specimen ? Your last has got mislaid, or lost in trans-
mission.

Arthur Goodp;. — It is not uncommon to find semi- fossilized
wood along the Norfolk coasts. It has been derived from the
" Forest Bed " that lies further to the north, at Cromer, and
extends under the German Ocean. Doubtless your spe-
cimen is such.

J. A., JuN. — Your notes are in type: but unless there is spe-
cial occasion, we are obliged to adhere to our rule of priorit}'
in the insertion of communications. Your wish shall be
attended to.

EiiRATA. — In Mr. Leslie's paper last month, for A'-gt/rus
read Argynnis ; and lor Daplidli read Daplidice. The P. D.'s
also go about seeking what they can devour.

C. E. — The specimens are the dissipimcnts of the siliqna or
seed-pod of Lunari/i, a genus of the Alyssinea group of the
CrunifiTfe.

W. J. HoopKR.— The grub inclosed in box is the larva of
the (ircat Stag Beetle [Lucanns cerims),

R. II. WKsrROPP. — Weare sorry to say your communication
contained no vertebras, or anything of the kind, wlien it
reached us.

R BARRiNf:To.v. — Your specimen appears to be the Alpine
Milk-vetch {Aalntgaliin alphuiK). Wc can make nothing else
of i"-.

S. A. Brexna.v. — The fern is perhaps Poly/iodiuni
pJiyllitidls ,- but it is a most puzzling thing to have to name a
species from an imperfect pinnule. 2. The Greater Brcom-rape
iOni'ianche rupinn). 3. Corn Woundwort (Sluchijs art'ensix).
Will our correspondents, when they wish plants named, kindly
send them mjiower ? Tne last specimen was in a very imper-
fect state.

EXCHANGES.

E( HiN'i. — Will any of our correspondents wlio have the op-
portunity send us si)cc)mens of any of the British Echini,

v.hole, for examination of the water- vascular system ? Also
larval forms of the above, if possilile. The specimens might,
after being killed in fre.sh water, be placed in a jar of glycerine
and water, half and half, with a dash of spirits of wine added.
Any expenses will be thankfully paid.— Address, Editor S.-G.,
102, Piccadilly.

Eggs of the Grasshopper Warbler, Sandwich Tern, Sparrow-
hawk, Kestrel Hawk^ and others, in exchange (or orher
British eggs. — Address, J. Watson, 20, Fountain Lane,
Blaydon-on-Tyne.

A xu.MBER of fine pupre, including fourteen AcJiprmtfia
utropos, to exchange for good slide:, well mounted. — W. Lane
Sear, 24, Cecil Square, Margate, Kent.

Vampire Bat, Polar Bear, and other good hairs, for Fern
Fronds withripe spores. — E. J. Wilson, 4a, Upper Cuniming
Street, N.

FORA.MiNiFERA from Gravcsend chalk for other objects
mounted.— W. Freeman, 1 6."), Maxey Road, Plumstead.

Cei.lu(,aria cii.iatv (well mounted) for a similar good

object.— A<!dress, H. Gilbert, 45, St. George's Road, Peckliam.

For a good unmounted object, a Pa'ate of Dog-whelk, well

mounted as an opaque object. Send object and stamped box

to Wm. Sargant, Jun., Caverswall, Cheadle, Staffordshire.

For seeds of Godcfiri, ColliiiKia Bartstefulia, and Cenlrun-
thus maciost/tlwri, send stamped directed envelope and good
microscopical object to Henry L Kay, Cathnor Road, New
Road, Shepherd's Bush, London, W.

Wanted good specimens of British Birds' Eggs, named,
in exchange for British Land and Fresh-water Shells. —
Address, H. Perkins, Hill House, Sibford, near Banbury.

Good specimens of MacUaun (a limited number), Uhumni,
and Adonis, in exchange for any of the following ■—Paphia,
Aglaia, C. album, Hyale, Sinapis (female), Rubi, Qutrcus,
Ailon, &c. Answers in a week.— Robert Laddiman, 3, Cos-
tessey Terrace, Hellesdou Road, Norwich.

A KEW specimens of Heliv obvohita for Pnludina vieipni:i ,
Flnnorbis corneus, or other rare British species.— E. H. God-
dard, Esq., Rev. H. Moberly's, King's Street, Winchester.

Wanted, British Butterflies or Moths in exchange for spe-
cimens of the following fevna -.—Polypudium dryoph-ris,
Al/osorus crispus, Asplmiuiii viride, or Cystopteris fragilis .—
J. A. G., The Elms, Banbury, O.xon.

Send stamped and addressed envelops with an unmounted
object of hiterest for fine crystals of pure Oxalate of Ammonia,
to Miss Watkins, 15, I'nion Street, Deptford, S.E.

Wa.vtkd, leaves of Vculziii scaOra and gracilis, in ex-
change for rich foraminiferous Sand from Connemara, or
other objects,— H. E. Freeman, 1, Rose Villas, Wood
Green, N.

A i.iiiERAL number of good slides of spicules and selected
diatoms, for material'containing any Aulucadiscus, Eupodiscus,
Jslhmiii, or Arachudidiscus, or for a bit of Glass-rope Sponge.
— J. K.Jackson, Talbot Street, OWbury, Birmingham.

PnvTEU.MAORBicuLARE, Gfiitianii amarcUa,a.\v\oVaets,. For
list apply to R. Payne, 12, Brock Road, Lordship Road, Stoke
Newington.

British Birds' Eggs offered in exchange for Atropos, Cun-
vfilviili, Euphorbia, G.ilii, Lioornicu, Celerio, Elpenor, Por-
cdlns, Nerii. Any of the above.- W. Bowman, Upper Willow-
Hall, VVarley, Halifax.

For Pollen of JMelumjiyrum prufense send stamped directed
envelope to J. H. Martin, 8(j, Week Street, Maidstone.

Cuticle of Pinom/ and Plates of Ilolotliuria for other
it'e/^mounted objects.— A. C. Rogers, Red Lodge, South-
ampton.

WcLi.-Mou.vTED ScctioHS of Teeth offered in exchange for •
otlicr well-mounted slides.— W. Nash, Stroud, Gloucester-
shire.

Fossils wanted. Lias, Oolitic, Mountain Limestone, or Silu-
rian, in exchange for Norman's prejiared microscopical slides
and others.— S. J. Barnes, Trafalgar Road, Moseley, Bir-
mingham.

Wings of British Butterflies and Moths for mounting, in
exchange for other microscopic material.- A. H. S., 50, Ar-
lington Street, Mornington Crescent, London.

Good specimens of fietneic, Corydon, and a few of Fiiipen-
dulx foranvone requiring them, uponreccipt of a suitable box
and return postage.— H. A. Auld, ti2, Granville Park, Black,
h^ath.

Wanted, Animal Parasites, Mites, &c., mounted or un-
monnted. Good slides given in exchange.— Address E. Lovett,
Holly Mount, Crovdon.

Wkli.- MOUNTED slides of selected Diatoms for fragments of
HyiluHcuiaoY C/iirodota.—G. Moore, Dereham Road, Norwich.
PoRTiox of Wing of Panidssius Apollo and other character-
istic scales in exchange for well-mounted slides.- T. Shipton,
Jun., 12, High Street, Chesterfield.

For scales of Rock-lish send stamped and directed enve-
lope, with object of interest, to F. S., Po.st Ofticc, Rugcley,
Staflordshire. ,

For exchange, slides of Entomological objects, &c. Send
lists to H. M. J. Underliill, 7, High Street, Oxtord.

L. Gi.AHER (living specimens) for other British Land and
Fresh- water Shells. -H . I.aver, Colchester.

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

2S5

INDEX TO VOL. VIII.

Ab.vormal Ckrastiuji, Q3.
Abiiormal Chenies, 1-13.
Abnormal Ericas, 6j.
Abnormal Tulip Stamens, 63.
Abundance of the Camberwell Beauty in

1872, 2-1.0, 26.1.
Abundance of the large Heath Butterfly,

261.
Achcrontia atropos, 20, 40, 46, 181, 238.
Agassiz Expedition, the, 186, 211, 260.
Age of Ferns, 166.
Alaud'i itrhorea, 44, 6s, 70, 93.
Alexander tlie Great, 2.j4.
Alps, the, 8S.
Amber, Origin of, 43.
American Fossil Lion, 279.
American JNIastodon. 114.
An Aurora by Daylight, 546.
Ancient Serpent- worship, 21.
Ancient Stone Implements, 227.
Animal Nature of the Spongiad<e, 17.
Animals, Notes on Common, 232.
AnneUd, Fly mistaken for an, 277.
Anobium, Ravages of, 208, 216.
Another *■' Pharaoh," 206.
Ants, 261, 263, 264.
Ants, fighting, 214.
Ants in India, Jottings on, 109.
Ants, Instincts of, 201.
Ants, White, 44, 69.
Aphrodc.di'rus sayiniim, 151.
Aquaria, Marine, 112, 165.
Aquarium at the Crystal Palace, 63.
Aquari\ini, my, II.
Aquarium, the Naples, 233.
Aquariums, Rockwork for, 215.
Afubis stfictit, 232.
Arachnid, a New, 260.
Arborescent Silver, 17, 47, 62.
Arbutus Berries, 113.
Archaeology of Rare Plants, 153.
Arctic Circle, Fossils of the, 18.
Art in its relation to Natural Science,

126.
Association, French.'for the Advancement

of Science, 258.
Auditory Capsules of MoUusca, 256.
Auk, the Great, 65.
Aurora by Daylight, 5, 46.

Bacteria, 211.

Balaniform Oak-galls, 139.

Banded Sunfish, the, 29.

Bats, 18, 36.

Battledore Scales, Markings on, 42.

Beale's Carmine Solution, 136.

Beauty, the Camberwell, 234, 239, 2S2.

Beech-trees and Lightning, 283.

Bee Orchis, the, 233, 259.

Bees, 189, 212, 238.

Bees in a strange place, 212.

Bees in the Himalayah Mountains, 56.

Beei' Nests, 239-

Bees, Stings of. 282.

Bees, the Food of, 3S.

Beetles, preserving, 145.

Beetle, the Stag, 45.

Belemnites, 252.

Belfast Naturalists' Field Club, 64.

Berkshire, Flora of, 64.

Berries of the Arbutus, 113.

Bird-fly, 139.

Bird-life, Curiosities of, 165.

Birds, Cretaceous, 235.

Birds, Distribution of, 53.

Birds eating Shells of their Etrgs, 140,

167.
Birds' Eggs, Collecting and Preserving,

73.
Birds, Geographical Range of, 184.
Birds imitating Sounds, 263.

Birds ir. Winter, 6j.

Birds, Little, 174.

Birds, Mice and, 116, 214. 238.

Birds, New Fossil, 114, 162, 18".

Birds, S igacity of, 280.

Birds, two new Species of European, 18

Blackcap Warbler, Gossip about the, 79.

Blood-corpuscles, Vertebrate, 256.

Bom/i/j.r Quercus, 46.

Bony Excrescences in Tarbot Skin, 47.

Books, New, 34,83, 129, 200, 242.

Borrago, 2 1 .

Botanical Difficulty, 214, 25g.

Brawls of Sparrows, 154.

" Brimstone," a White, 95, 117.

Brimstone Butterfly, the, 117.

British Association, 181, 233.

British Fauna, Books on the, 232.

British Gentianacea;, 162.

British Turtle, a, 112.

Broom-rape Picris, 23.

Bullfinch, a one-legged, 214.

Bullfinch, talking, 45.

Bull-frog, the, 95.

Bunt of Wheat as a Lens, 276.

Burnets, New British, 23).

Butterflies and Jloths, Collecting, &c.,

121,241, 280.
Butterflies and Moths, why scarce after a

damp Winter, 89, 139, 2,(6.
Butterflies, Destruction of English, 31.
Butterflies of the Channel Islands, 65.
Butterflies, Scarcity of, 1 89.
Butterfly, New Fossil, 114.
Butterfly, the Brimstone, 95, 1 17.

CABnAcE, A Nest in a, 166.
Cage-birds and Saffron, 166.
Calamite, Fruit of the, 80.
Camberwell Beauty, the, 234, 239, 2i9,

263, 282.
Camphor in Paratfln Lamps, 186.
Canaries, a Gossip about, 53.
Candlelight, Colours by, 212.
Candour, 227.
Canine Gyrations, 52, 95, 115, 140,163,

188.
Carboniferous Fish, 176.
Carboniferous Reptiles, 67.
Carmine Solution, Dr. Beale's, 136.
Catalogues lor Collections, 118, 162, 175,

212.
CaterpiUars' Hairs, Irritating Effect of, 22,

137, 167, 190, 215.

Caterpillars, Migration of Wood-boring,

188.
Caterpillars, Notes on Web-weaving, 58,

94. 115, 142.
Caterpillars, Tenacity of Life in, 165, 262.
Caterpillars, Young, in Confinement, l6l,

183, 237, 262.
Cave Deposits in France, 211.
Caves, the Doward, 235.
Celandine, the Lesser, 63.
Centipede, Electric, 20.
Cerastium, Abnormal, 93.
Chaffinch's Nest, 236.
Chameleons utilized, 214.
Chameleon, the, 71, 92.
Changes in Localities of Rare Plants, T7.
Channel Islands, Butterflies of the, 65.
Charas, drying, 2 [5.
Charlock, the, 152, 188.
Chemical Properties of Fungi, 164.
Cherries, Abnormal, 143.
Chickens, Hedgehogs and, 238, 23 1.
Chignon, Nest in a, 26-'.
Chinese Animals, New, 209.
Chlorophyll ia Lower Organisms, 113.
Chrysalids, keeping, 261, 262, 281.
Cleaning Feathers, 191, 240.

Cleaning Foraminifcra, 6g, 141, 183, 2'i7*

Cleaning Skeletons, 23, 39.

Clifden Nonpareil, 283.

Clione, the, 115.

Clips, Microscopical, 1 66.

Clothes-moths, 115, 161, 16J, 190, 21 1,

238.
Coal, 260.

Coal, New Supply of, 17, 187.
Coal, Sections of, 87, 277.
Coleoptera, New British, 160.
Coleus, Fungoid Growth on Leaves of,

135.
Collecting and Preserving, 25, 40, 73, 9",

121, 145, 169, I9i, 199, 217, 241, 265. "
Collection Catalogue, 118, 162,175,212.
CoUins's Light-Corrector, 183.
Colloid Silica, 168.
Coloured Hawthorn, 212.
Colouring Matter in Fungi, 113.
Colours by Candlelight, 212.
Colours of Lepidotera, 175, 237, 26!.
Coluber AitsMacu,', 108, 232, 239.
Commerce In Pollen, 232.
Comparison of known and unknown

Species, 42.
Compass-flower, 281.
j Coral, 17, 43, 163.

Coral, Deep-sea, 163.
j Coral, New Species of Fossil, 43.
Cormorants at Home, 30, 70.
Corunellii Icevis, 238.
Cowcatcher Ride, Notes of a, 13(5,
Crab, a Geologist, 199.
Cretaceous Birds, 235.
Cretaceous Reptiles, 43, 235.
Crows, 188.
Cry of the Woodpigeon, 93, II6, 140, 165,

235.
Cryptogamia of the Scilly Islands, 210.
Crystal Palace Aquarium, 65.
Cuckoo, the, 105, 166, 191, 261,282.
Cuckoo in October, 261.
Curiosities of Bird-life, l65.
Curious Animals, Laws to Protect, 39.
Curious British Plant, a, 249.
Curious Habits of Swallows, 57, 143.
Curious Insects, 184.
Curious Turbot, 215.

Dagger-moth, the, 95.

Dammar, mounting in, 71, "2, 256, 276.

Daylight Aurora, 5, 46.

Dead Flies, 236.

Death's-head Moth, 20, 40, 46, 184, 238.

De Brebisson, Death of, 136.

Deep-sea Dredging. 89.

Desert, Manna of the, 60, 186.

Destruction of Ensjlish Butterflies, 31,

Diatomaccre in Guano, 17.

Diatomaceous Deposits, 22.

Diatomaceous Frustules, 184.

Diatoms, New, 257-

Diatoms, how to obtain them pure, 19.

Diatoms, Hot- water, 255.

Diatom Test-slide, list of forms. 135.

Dictionary, Micrographical, 276,

Difficulties, Botanical, 214, 259.

Difficulties, Microscopical, 164, 163.

Disease, the Potato, 222, 254, 259, 280.

Divining-rod, 280.

Do Animals commit Suicide? 70, II6.

Dock, Peculiarities in the, sg.

Dock V. Nettle, 238, 262.

Dodder, the, 139.

Dogs, Gyrations of, 52, 95, 115, 140, 163,

188.
Do many Swallows perish in Migrating ?

239.
Double Lemon, 23.
Doward Cave, the*- 233.

286

H A R D W iC K K'S S C 1 E N C E - GO S S I P.

Dragon fly, the, 15.

Dredging, Deep-sea, 89.

Dried Flowers, 71, 91, n,".

Dried Plants, poisoning, 4'>, 70, 92.

Drum of Frog's F.ar, 13d.

Drying Charas, 213.

Duck, the Tufted, 70, 94, M;!, l64.

Dyed Sections of Wood, 2S2.

Eagle, Goldev, ix So.iikrsktshirk

160,215.
Eagle, the .Sea, U2.
Earthworms. H.
Edible Lichen, an, 60.
Eels ill Paste, 41, 7U. 87, 118,281.
Eels ; how are they bred ? 282.
Eggar Moth, the Oak, 22, 47, 137.
Eifgar Moth, the Small, 9. 137. Uii'. 283.
Eggs, Birds eating the Shells of their,

167.
Eggs of Birds, Collecting and Preserving,

73.
Egg-shell of a large Garden Snail, 233.
Egg, two Birds from one, 164, ISS.
Eightieth Objective, an, 276.
Electric Centipede, 20.
Electrical Excess, 282.
Elm, supposed Parasite of the, lOS, 142.
EmperorMoth, the, 230.
Kndfornis versicolor, 115, 142.
Enemies of Pupre, 155.
England the Sister of Holland, 155.
English Butterflies, Destruction of, 31.
Entomological Society, New, 258.
Epipactis lutifolia, 259, 27s.
Epipaclis paliistris, 250, 273.
Ergotized Grass, 45.
Ericas, Abnormal, 64.
Ermine hi North Wales, 71, Qi, II 9.
Ermine Moth, the White, 143.
Erra'-a, 23, 95, 115, 138, 23ti.
Euplectella, the, 180.
Everlasting Flowers, 19.
ExpKlition, the Agassiz, 186, 211, 260.
Expedition, the Tliomson Exploring, 277.
Eyepiece, Goniometer, 63.
Eyes of Insects, Mounting, 266.
Eye-stones, 133.

Faun'a of the Wyandote Cavjj, 2r9-

Feathers, Cleaning, 191, 240.

Fecundity of Hydras, 237.

Ferns, Age of, IGS.

Ferns, Collection and Preservation of, 07.

Terns, Insects on, 2-i2.

Ferns, Walking, 22.

Fertilization by Insects, 89, 257, 278.

Field Clubs, 115, 166.

Field Cricket, the Green, 59, 92, 1 19, 141,

182, 238.
Fio-hting Ants, 214.
Finder, Maltwood's, 62.
Fish, Carboniferous, 176.
Fishes, Blind, in Kentucky cave, 54, 88,

136.
Fishes, Fossil, in Palestine, 90, 114.
Fishing in the Stone Age, 268.
Fish, Nest-building, ItO.
Fish, New, 235.
Fish, New Fossil, 114.
Fish, New Lophcjid, 1 33.
fisli. Rare, 45.
Fish, Worms in, 191.
Flea-bites, 116.
Flies, Dead, 233.
Fhght of Partridge, 47.
Flint-flakes, 117.
Flint Implements, I87.
Flint, Recent Formation of, 41.
Flints, Spongcous Origin of, 214,
Flora of Berkshire, 64.
Floras, Local, 64, 138, 142, 232, 259.
Flowers, Dried, 71, 91, 137.
Flowei's, Formation of Ozone by, 211.
Flowers, Insects and, 21.
Fly mistaken for an Annelid, 277.
Fly Orchis, the, 259.
Folk-lore : Mad-stones, 20.
Food of Bees, 38.

Food of Ileraiptera and of Snakes, 71.
Food of the Plesiosaurus, 211.
Food of Wood-pigeons in Winter, 140.
Foraminifera, cleaning Chalk, 141.
Foraminifera, cleaning Sand, 69, 183, 207.

Forests in France, 8.

Forget-me not, the, 22.

Fossil Birds, New, Hi, I62, 187.

Fossil Butterfly, New, 114.

Fossil Conifers, New Species of, 17.

Fossil Coral, New Species, 43.

Fossil Fish in Palestine, 90, 114.

Fossil Fish, New, 114.

Fossil Horses, 90.

Fossil Hydrozoa, 67, 90.

Fossil Lion, 279.

Fossil Monkeys, 221.

Fossils of the Arctic Circle, 18,

Fossils, Oolitic, 95, 11 7.

Fox-moth, the, 20.

Fox-moth, Larva of the, 161.

France, Cave Deposits in, 211.

France, Destruction of Forests in, 8.

France during the Jurassic Period, 114.

French Association for the Advancement

of .Science, 258.
Fresh-water Polyp, Economy of, 132.
Fresh- water Polyzoa, 1 12.
Fritillary, the Queen of Spain, 139,237,281,
Frog's Ear, Drum of, 136.
Frogs, Sliowers of, 20, 143, I67.
Frog-spawn, 213.
Fruit of the Calamite, 80.
Fruit, Squirrels and, 212.
Frustules, Diatomaceous, 1S4.
Fungi, a Ramble after, 247.
Fungi, Chemical Properties of, 1 64.
Fungi, Colouring Matter in, 113.
Fungi in Spring, 95.
Fungi, New, 90, 113, I16.
Fungi on Leaves, 22.
Fungi, Poisonous, 232.
Fungi, Preservation of, 116, 185,193,21 0,

239.
Fungoid Growth on Leaves of Coleus, 35.

Gamk-cock, the, 164, 236.
Gamekeepers and Zoologists, 212.
Gas-light: does it kill Plants.' 118, 141,

142, 191, 212.
Gentianacere, British, 162.
I Geographical Range of Birds, 184.
Geological Guide to Sicily, 70, 93.
1 Geologist, tlie Crab a, 179.
I Geology of North Hampshire, 200.
Geology of Ohio, 163.
Geometers, Net for, 215.
Geopliilus electricHS, 20, 46.
Geraniums, Starch in, 215.
Ghent, Natural History Notes at, 243.
Gigantic Flying Lizards, 235.
Gipsy- moth, 23, 69, 1 19-
Glacial Period in Ireland, 280.
Glaciers in the Rocky Mountains, 162.
Glance Erde, 160.
Glass-rope Sponge, 35, 56, 106, 18'>.
Glow-worms, 68, 91.
Gnat, Larva of, 215.
Golden Eagle in Somersetshire, &c., 1 15,

165, 258.
Gold-fish, 93, 139, 165.
Gold-tail Moth, 143.
Goniometer Eyepiece, 63.
Gossip about Canaries, 53.
Gossip about the Blackcap Wai-'der, 79.
Gossip about the Hawfinch, 130, I89.
Graptolite, new Dendroid, 26O, 280.
Graptolites, 138, 260.
Grass, ergotized, 45.
Grasshopper, the Large Green, 94, lig,

141.
Gravel-pit, Story of a, 6.
Cireen Lizards, 190.

"Grevillea," 18". 1

Gryllus viridissimus, 59, 92, 110, 141, 182,

238. I

Guano, Diatomacea- in, 17. ^

Gyration of Dogs, 52, 95, lis, MO, 1G3,

188.

Habits of Spidkrs, 140.

Hairs, Vegetable, 259.

Hampshire, Cieology of North, 260.

Harrier, Montagu's, 167, 18y.

Harvest Bugs, 283.

Hawfinch, Gossip about the, 130, ISQ.

Hawthorn, Coloured, 212.

Heath Butterfly, Abundance of the large,

261.
Hedgehog Parasites, 213.

Hedgehogs and Chickens, 233, 231.

Helicfiryium, 19.

Hemiptera, Food of, 71.

Heracleum gigantcum, 215, 237.

Herbarium at Kew, 279.

Hermit Crabs, 22.

Hernsehaw, Spenser's, 282.

Hertfordshire, Plants of, 138.

Himalayah Mountains, Bees in, 56.

Hints to Microscopists, 88.

Hippopotamus, Birth aid Death of a, 4(5.

Honey, 215.

Horses, Fossil, 90.

Hot- water Diatoms, 255.

Housefly in New Zealand, 94, 115.

House to let, 22.

How are Eels bred ? 282.

How do Spiders weave their Webs ? 26 1 .

How to clear a Pond, 237, 261.

How to cut Vegetable Sections, 177.

How to kill Moths, 164.

How to obtain Diatoms in a state of

purity, 16.
How to stock a Pond, II9, 142.
Humalus, the, 259.
Hunting for Insects' Eggs, 212.
Hyalonema miritbilis, 35, 56, 105.
Hybernation of Swallows, 1 15.
Hybrid Plant, a curious, 24S.
Hydras, Fresh-water, 132, 237.
Hydrozoa, Fossil, 67, 90.
Hygroscopy, Reptile, 112.
Hymcnop}iyHum Tnnhrigense, 64, 113.
Hymenoptera in Town, 212.
Hymenoptera of N. America, 112.
Hymenoptera, to set, 232.

ICHTHVOSAURUS, 43, 92.

Imm.ersion Lenses, l6s.
Implements, Ancient Stone, 227.
Improved Reflex Illuminator for High

Powers, 159.
Indian Ant-jottings, 109.
Infusoria, 21.
Initial Letters, 20, 47.
Insect, a Curious, 18*.
Insects, Fertilization by, fg, 257,273.
Insect Mimicry, 234.
Insects and Flowers, 21.
" Insects at Home," 12.
Insects' Eggs, Hunting for, 212.
Insects' Eggs, Mobility of Spines upon

certain, 87.
Insects, Influence of a Damp Winter on,

89, 139,236.
Insects in Winter, 18.
Insects on Ferns, 282,
Insects, new Species of, 155.
Insects, Noxious and Beneficial, 161.
Insects, to mount Eyes of, 256.
Instincts of Ants, 201.
Ireland, Glacial Period in, 280.
Ireland, Separation of, from British aren,

211.
Ireland, Sketches in the West of, 83, 172.
Ireland, true Shamrock of, 113, 13S, 142.
Irish Nightingale, 193.
Irritating Effect of Caterpillars' Hairs,

22, 137, 167, 190, 215.

JoTTiXGS ON Ants ix IxniA, lOp.
Jurassic Period, France during the. 114.
Justice's Science, 70.

Keepi.vo Curysamus, 261, 262, SSI.
Kentucky Cave, Blind Animais in, 40, 54,

88, 136.
Kew Herbarium, 279.

Lackey-Moth, the N.\jie of the, 35,

89.
Land Birds and their Home, 8.
Landslip near North wich, l'i7.
Larvoe and Ichneumons, 283.
Larvie, Preservation of, 199, 234,
Larva of a kind of Gnat, 213.
Larva ot the Fox-moth, 161.
Latest Changes in Nortiiern Hemisphere.

67.
Late Tadpoles, 70.

Law to Protect Curious Animals. 39.
Leaf Fungi, 22.

Leaves, Preparation of Skeleton, 30, 190.
Leeds Naturalists' Field Club, 1 15.
Lemon, Double, 23.

HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE- GOSSIP.

287

Lenses, Immersion, lliS.

Leopards' Bane, Plantain-leaved, 140.

Lepidoptera, Colours of, \75, 237, ^61.

Lesser Pettychap, 9:^, U8, 143, 167. .

Lichen, an Edible, 69.

Lichens, Preserving, 21".

Lichen, Yellow Wall-, 185.

Light-corrector, CoUins's, 18:".

Lig-htning, Beech-trees and, 283.

Liparis dispiir, 23, 6g, 1 19-

Littorellti lacustris, 231.

Liverpool, Flora of, 232, 259.

"Liver," the, 22, 40, 41, 6:), 93, l63, 212.

Lizards, Gigantic Flying, 235.

Lizards, Greon, 1 90.

Lizards, Preserving, 2S2.

Local Floras, 138, 142, 188, 232, 2.-)9.

Localities of Kare Plants, Changes in the,

77.
Loch Islay, peculiar Trout.iu, 83.
London, Mosses about, 11, 33, 64.
London Orchids, 279.
Lophoid Fish, New, 130.
Lophospermum, Metamorphosis in, 279-
Lory, Origin of ths Name, 112.
Lunatics and the Moon, llfi, l63, 190.

Mad-sto>ji!S, 20.

Magnets, Native, 28.

Malcwood's Finder, 62.

Malvern Naturalists' Club, 4(5.

Mangrove, the, 42.

Manna of the Desert, 60, ISS.

Marine Aciuaria, 112, 165.

Markings on Battledore Scales, 42.

Markings on Podura Scales, 208.

Martens, Scarcity of, 235.

Marvels, Microscopic, 231.

Mastodon, American, 114.

Meeting of the British Association, 233.

Metamorphosis in Lophospermum, 279.

Mice and Birds, 116, 214, 231.

Mice in Traps, 22, 45.

Mice, Singing, 47, 65, 24.

Micrographical Dictionary, 2/6. I

Microscopical Clips, 166. {

Microscopical Difficulties, l64, l65. 1

Microscopical Journal, New, UK j

Microscopical Societies, 212.

Microscopical Troughs, 250.

Microscopic Marvels, 231.

Microscopists, Hints to, 83.

Migration of Newts, 213.

Migration of wood boring Caterpillars,
188.

Mimicry by Birds, 263.

Mimicry in Insects, 234.

Mimicry in Snakes, 234.

Mineral Matter of Plants, 210.

Missel-thrush v. Squirrel, 263.

Mites, 118.

Mobility of Spines on certain Insects'
Eggs, 87.

Model of the Wealden, 235.

Mo'tern Subdivision in Science, 184,

Moller's Test-slide of Diatoms, 135.

MoUusea, Auditory Capsules of, 256.

Monkeys, Fossil, 221.

Monstrous Plants in 1872, 270.

Montagu's Harrier, 167, !8i).

Monthly IMicroscopicid Jnn.rntil, 160.

Moon, Influence of the, on Lunatics, IIP,
163, 190.

Mosses about London, 11, 35, 61.
Mosses, Collecting and Preserving, 49.
Moss Flora, 186.
Moths, Collecting and Preserving, 121,

241, 280.
Moths, how to kill, l64, 166, IQO.
Moths in Clothes, 115, l63, l64, 190, 214,

238.
Moths, Processionary, 45.
Moths, why scarce after a damp Winter,

89. 139, 236.
Moth, the Emperor, 230.
Moth, the Gipsy, 23, 6g, II9.
Moth, the Oak Eggar, 22, 47, 137.
Moth, the Small Eggar, 9, 137, 190.
Moth, the Wood Leopard, 236.
Mounting in Balsam or Dammar, 256, 276.
Mounting in Gum Dammar, 71, 72.
My Aquarium, 81.
Mycological Ramble, a, 217.
"My Garden," 202.
Jili/osotis, 22.

Naid Worm, the, 23.

Name of the Lackey Moth, 95.

Naples Aquarium, the, 233.

Native Magnets, 28.

Natural History for Rustics, 253, 282.

Natural History Guide to Scarborough,

164.
Natural History Notes at Rotterdam, &c.,

246.
Natural History of Scotland, 141.
Natural History, Popular, 209, 215, 237,

277.

Natural History Societies, 1 15, 186, 183.

Naturalists' Clubs, 4fi, 61, 115, 185.

Naturalists, Work for, IS.

Navicula, New, 257.

Nebraska, Notes of a Cow-catcher ride
in, 136.

Nemer/cs, l63.

Nest-building Fish, 16O.

Nest, ChaEftnch's, 236.

Nest in a Cabbage, 166.

Nest in a Chignon, 262.

Nest, Swallows', 237.

Net for Geometers, 215.

Nettle 11. Dock, 238, 2S2.

New Additions to Zoology, 2119.

New Ai-achnid, 260.

New Books, 31, 83, 129, 2U0, 212.

New British Burnets, 231.

New British Coleoptera, 160.

New British Flora, 1 86.

New Chinese Animals, 20g.

New Dendroid Graptolite, 260, 280.

New Entomological Society, 238.

New Fishes, 235.

New Fossil Bird, Til.

New Fossil Butterfly, 114.

New Fossil Fish, 114.

New Fungi, 90, 113,116.

New Goniometer Eyepiece. 6 i.

New Jersey, the Stone .Vije in, 162.

New Lophoid Pish, 136.

New Microscopical Journal, 111.

New Navicula, 257.

New netted Glass-rope Sponge, 185.

New Noctua, 40.

New Species of European Bird=!, 1 1.

New Species of Fossil Coniiers, 17.

New Species of Fossil Cural, 43.

New Species of Insects, 185.

New Species of Protocystis, 220.

New Species of Rail, 40.

New Species of Rotatoria, 9.

New Species of Sericoris, 112.

New Supplies of Coal, 17, 183.

New Tertiary Mammal, 211.

Newts, Migration of, 213.

Newt, the Smooth, 127.

New Zealand, the Housefly in, 91, 115.

New Zoophyte, 235.

Nightingale, the Irish, 198,

Noctua, New, 40.

Noctuas, Sugaring for, 115. 141, 161.

Norfolk, Pike-fishing in, 65.

North American Hymenoptera, 112,

Northern Hemisphere, latest Changes in,

67.
Northwich, Landslip near, 107.
Notes on Web-weaving Caterpillars, 58,

94, 115.
Noxious and Beneficial Insects, 16I.

-SKA EXPLOHATIOVS, 136,

Oak Eggar Moth, 22, 47, 137-

Oak-galls, Balaniform, 139-

Objective, an Eightieth, 276.

Observations on the Smooth Newt, 127.

October, the Cuckoo in, 261.

Ohio, Geology of, 163.

One-legged Bullfinch, 214.

Oolitic Fossils, 95, 117-

Optical Phenomenon, 213, 263.

Orchids, London, 279.

Orchis miliaris, 183.

Orchis, the Bee, 236, 259.

Origin of Amber, 43.

Origin of Plants, 43.

Origin of the Gamecock, l64, 236.

Ornament, Plants applied to, 190.

Otter, 139.

Ousel, the Ring, 46.

Owl, the Tawny, 167.

Oxfordsiiire, rare Plants in, 19.

Ozone, Formation of, by Flowers, 211.

Pharaoh,"

PACtFIC DeBP-

211, 260.
Palestine, Fossil Fish in, 90, 114.
Paraffin Lamps, Camphor in, 133.
Parakeet, the Ringed, 151.
Parallelism, Zoological, 257.
Parasite of the Elm, Kis, 1 l».
Parasite on Pieris riiprs, 83.
Parasites, 213.
Parasites, Heilgehog, 213.
Parasites on Starling, 213, 237.
Parasitic Rotifer, 112, 137.
Pan-oquet a hundred years old, So.
Parrot, a Cuckoo, 165.
Partridge's Flight, 47.
Passages from the Life of

101.
Passion-flower, the, 95, 113, II 7, 165.
Paste, Eels in, 41,70,87, 118,281.
Peculiarities in the Dock, 89.
Peculiar Trout of Loch Islay, 85.
Peel's Parsley-leaf, 21.
" Peloria," or Plant Monstrosity, 259.
Pet Starlings, .tc, 237.
j Pettychap, the Lesser, 93, 11 8, 143, 167.

" Pharaoh," a pet Owl, 101.
I " Pharaoh," another, 206.
I Phenomenon, Optical, 213, 263.
Phosphorescence, 142, 257, 262, 282.
Phyllactidium pulchellum, 47, 92.
I Physciii purivtinii, 1 85.
! Pieris Broom-rape, 23.
i Pieris rii/irp. Parasite on, 83.
Pigeons, 164, 183.

Pigeons, Wood, 93, nO, 140, 163, 236.
Pike-flshing in Norfolk, 65.
Pirate, the, 151.

Pitchstone and Porphyrino, 110.
Plant Lice, 209.

Plants applied to Ornament, 191.
j Plants, Archajology of Rare, 158.
i Plants, Changes in the Localities of Rare,
I 77.

I Plants, Collection and Preservation of,
I 97-
J Plants, does Gaslight kill? !13, 141, ii-',

! 191,212.

' Plants, Mineral Matter of, 210.

, Plants, Monstrous, 270.

! Plants, Orgiin of, 43.

j Plants, Poisoning dried, 40, 70, 92.

! Plants, Rare, 47, 248.

I Plants, Temporary Appearances, Sec. of

I 174.

Plants, White Varieties of, 20, 22, 45, 23.

Plesiosaurns, Food of the, 2il.

Pleurosigma, 42.

Podura Scales, 16, 41, 47, 100, 208.

Podura Test, the, 100.

Poisoning dried Plant'', 40, 70, 92.

Poison of the Rattlesnake, extracting,

184.
Poisonous Fungi, 232.
Polariscope Object, 160.
Pollen, Commerce in, 232.
Pollen-grains, various Forms of, 61.
Polyp, the Economy of the Fresh-water,

132.

Polythoa on Glass-rope Sponge, 56.

Polyxenus la gurus, 3 1 .

Polyzoa, Fresh-water, 112.

Pond, how to clear a, 237, 26! .

Pond, how to stock a, 11 9, 141.

Popular Science, 112.

Porphyrine and Pitchstone, 110.

Potato Disease, 222, 254, 259, 280.

Potent iUufruticoxa, 278.

Prawns and Shrimps, 156.

Preparation of Skeleton Leaves, 30, 190.

Prepai'ing Slides, 256.

Preserving Beetles, 145.

Preserving Birds' Eggs, 73.

Preserving Butterflies and Moths, 121,

241.
Preserving Fungi, II 6, 185, 193, 210, 239.
Preserving Geological Specimens, 25.
Preserving Land and Freshwater Shells,

2o5.
Preserving Larvre, 199, 234.
Preserving Lichens, 217.
Preserving Lizards, 282.
Preserving Mosses, 49,
Preserving Plants, 97.
Preserving Seaweeds, 169.
Preserving Wasps' Nests, 21 J.

HARD WICK E'S S C 1 E N C E-GOSS IP.

Primrose, three-petalled, 22.
Processionary Mollis, 45.
Products of Waste, the, 131.
Protectioa of Curious Animals by Law, 39. ^
Protection of Wild Fowl, l6o.
Protocystis, New Species of, 221. j

Protozoa, itil. j

Provincial Societies, Ifin, 185, 278. i

Pterodactyle, Huge, i:j8.
Pupa Enemies, 155.

Pupje, Tiniae destroying, 188. j

Purpura hipillus, 213.

QUKEN OF Spaix FniTiLLAaY, 132,237,'

281.
Quekett Microscopical Club, 207.

Rail, Nbw Species of, 40. !

Rununculus ficiiria, 63. ;

Rare British Snake, l6o. j

Rare Fish, 45, j

Rare Oxfordshire Plants, 19.
Rare Plants, 47- I

Rare Plants, Archreology of, 158. |

Rats in St. Helena, 119. ;

Rattlesnake, extracting Poison of the, ■

184.
Ravages of Anobium, 208, 216. ■

Recent Formation of Flint, 41.
Red Viper, the, 277.
Reflex Illuminator, Wenham's improved,

159.
Remedies proposed for Potato Disease,

254, 259.
Remedy wanted, 23.
Reptile Hygroscopy, 112.
Reptiles, Carboniferous, 67.
Reptiles, Cretaceous, 43, 235.
Reptiles, Strange, 23. 1

Resurrection Plant, the, 213, 231. |

Rhinoceros at the Zoological Gardens,

78.
Ring Ousel, 46. 1

River Valley and its Tributaries, 33. j

Rocky Mountains, Glaciers in the, 162. |
Rockwork for Aquariums, 215. \

Rotatoria, new Species of, 9. 112, 256. j
Rotifer, a singular, 256, 2/7. |

Rotifer, Parasitic, 112, 137. ;

Rotterdam, Natural History Notes at,

246. i

Rural Natural History, 215, 237, 253, 282.
Rustics, Natural History for, 253.

Saffrox, 21, 1C7, 141, 143, i6j, 164, 166,

ISO, 215.

Sagacity of Birds, 280.

Salmon spawning, 161.

Sand])ipers, 95, 1 15.

Saw-flies and Water, 112.

Saw-flies, Saws of, 157.

Savvs of Saw-flies, 157.

Saxifrage, singular Flowermg of, 213.

Scabions, singular, 258, 279.

Scales, Markings on Battledore, 42.

Scalse of Podurre, 16, 41, 47, 100.

Scarborough, Natural History Guide to,
164.

Scarcity of Butterflies in 1872, 189, 212.

Science, French Association for the Ad-
vancement of, 258.

Science in the Tenth and Twelfth Cen-
turies, 1.

Science of Justices, 70.

Science, Popular, 112.

Scientific Education, 140.

Scientific Guide-books, 112, 188.

Scilly Islands, Cryptogamia of the, 210.

Scotland and the Unicorn, 95.

Scottish Natural History, 141.

Sea Eagles, 142.

Seals, 191.

Seaweeds, Collecting and Preserving, I69.

Section-cutting, 237, 283.

Sections of Coal, 87, 277.

Sections of Vegetable Substances, 177,

231, 255, 282, 283.

Self-heal, 280.

ericoris. New Species of, 1)2.

Serpent- worship, 21.

Setting Hymenoptera, 282.

Shamrock, the True, 113, 138, 142.

Shells, Collecting and Preserving, 265.

Shore Wainscot Moth, 139-

Showers of Frogs, 20, 143, 167-

Shrew-mouse, 45, 71 •

Shrimps and Prawns, 156.

Sicily, Geological Guide to, 70, 93.

Silica, Colloid, 168.

Silver, Arborescent, 17, 47, 62.

Silver in Surrey, 214.

Singing Mice, 47, 65, 94.

Singular Flowering of Saxifrage, 213.

Skeleton Leaves, Preparation of, 30, 190.

Skeletons, Cleaning, 23, 39.

Sketches in the West of Ireland, 83, 172.

Slides, Preparing, 256.

Small Eggar-inoth, 9, 137-

Smelts and Smelting, 101.

Snail, Egg-shell of large Garden, 238.

Snake, a Rare British, I60.

Snakes, Food of, 71.

Snake, the Smooth, 2C8, 232, 230, 258.

Saakc Story, a, 213.

Snake-stones, 274.

Snake, Mimicry in the, 231.

Societies, Provincial, 160, 185, 278.

Soils, Porosity of, 279.

Soiree, Quekett Microscopical Club, 207.

Solar Spots and Spectrum, 20.

Somersetshire, Golden Eagle in, 165.

Somethhig about Spiders, 213.

South London Entomological Society,

142,281.
Sparrow Brawls, 154.
Sparus bo'6)'<s, II7.
Spawning of Salmon, 161.
Spicules of Sponges, &c., 20, 95, 188.
Spiders, Habits of, 140, 213.
Spiders ; how do they weave their Webs ?

261.
Spider, the Wood, 182.
Spongeous Origin of Flints, 244.
Sponges, 160.
Sponge Sand, 281.
Sponge Spicules, 20, 95.
Sponge, the Glass-rope, 35, 56, 106, 185.
SpongiadcX, Animal Nature of tlie, 17.
Spring Fungi, 95.
Squirrels and Fruit, 212.
Squirrels as Nest-robbcrs, 199, 261, 263.
Stag Beetle, 42, 92, 95, 139, 191J.
Staining Tissues, 111, 120, 136.
Starch in Geraniums, 215.
Starlings, 93, 117, 118, 140.
StarUngs, Pet, 213,337-
St. Helena, Rats in, I19.
Sticklebacks, 166.
Stings of Bees and Wasps, 283.
Stone Age Fish and Fishing. 268.
Stone Age in New Jersey, 162.
Stone Implements, Ancient, 227.
Stones, Snake, 274.
Storm-glasses, 168.
Story of a Gravel-pit, 6.
Strange Reptile, a, 23.
Subdivision, Modern, in Science, 184.
Sugaring for Noctuas, 115, 141, 164.
Suggestion, a, 115.
Suicide, do Animals commit? 70, II6.
Sun-fish, the Banded, 29.
Sun, Spots and Spectrum of, 20.
Surrey, Silver in, 214.
Swallows, Curious Habits of, 57, 143.
Swallows, do many peristi in Migrating ?

239,
Swallows, Hybernation of, 115.
Swallows' Nests, 237.
Swallows, where are they? 89,212,235,

237, 239.
Sword-fish, the, 71, 116. i'"-

Taopolbs, i.atk, 70.
Talking Bullfinch, 45.
Tapir, the, H9.
Tawny Owl, 167.

Temporary Appearances and Disappeeu'-
ances of Plants, 17^.

Tenacity of Life in Caterpillars, 165,

251.
Tertiary Mammal, New, 211.
Test-scales of Podurre, 16, 41, 47, 100,

208.
Thunderbolts, 252.
T/iyniius vulgaris, 215.
TkijHunuradrB, 272.
Tinise destroying Pupse, 188.
Tissues, on Staining, 111, 120, 136.
Traps, Mice in, 22, 45.
Tree-pipit, 44, 6s, 70, 93.
Trilobite, a Modern, 279.
Trilobites, 43.
Tropical Regions, Perpetual Freshness of,

42.
Troughs, Microscopical, 256.
Trout, Peculiar, in Loch Islay, 85.
Tufted Duck, the, 70, 94, 143, I64.
Tunny, the Mediterranean, 215.
Turbot, Curious, 215.
Turbot Skin, bony Excrescences in, 47.
Turtle, a British, 112.

f

Unicorn, the, 46, 68, 95.
Universality of Distribution in Birds
Utilized Chameleons, 214.

53.

Valley of a River axd its Tribu-
taries, 33.
" Valleys, Deltas, Bays, and Estuaries,"

283.
Venessij. Antiopa, 234, 239, 249, 263.
Varieties, White, of Plants, 20, 22, 45, 93,

214.
Various Forms of Pollen-grains, 41.
Vegetable Hairs, 259.
Vegetable Sections, hon' to cut, 177.
Venus's Flower-hasket, 209.
Vertebrate Blood-corpuscles, 256.
Viper, the Red, 277-
Vitrina pidlucida, 44, 69, 11 6.

Wales, Er.mine in North, 71, II9.
i Walking Ferns, 22.
i W'all Lichen, the Yellow, 185.
j Wasps, 70, 163, 282.

Wasps' Nest, 163, 239.
' Wasps' Nests, to preserve, 214.
! Waste, the Products of, 131.

Wealden, Model of the, 235.

Web-weaving Caterpillars, 58, 94, 115,
142.

Wenham's new Reflex Illuminator, 159.

Whales in Garran's Bay, Cornwall, I89.

Wheat Bunt as a Lens, 276. '

Whellk, the White, 181.

Where are the Swallows? 189, 212,235,
235,237, 239.

Wliite Ants, 44, 99.

Whitebait, 44, 263, 281, 282.

White Brimstone Butterfly, 95, 117-

White Varieties, 20, 22, 45, 93, 214.

Widgeon, the Black, 70.

Wild Fowl, Protection of, 160.

Winter, Habits of Birds in, 66.

Winter, Insects in, 18.

Wood Leopard-moth, the, 236.

Wood-pigeons, 93, 116, 140, l65, 236.

Wood Sections, 231, 255, 282, 283.

Wood Spider, the, 182.

Woody Structure replaced by pure Silver,

17.
W^ork for Naturalists, 18.
Worms in Fish, 191.
Wyandote Cave and its Fauna, 206.

Yellow-hammer, 167.
Young Caterpillars in Confinement, 1 61,
188, 237, 262.

Zoological GARnsNS, new Rhino-
ceros AT THE, 78.
Zoological Parallelism, 257-
Zoologists, Gamekeepers and, 212.
Zoology, new Additions to, 2i 9.
Zoophyte, New, 235. .'

^

WVMAN AND SONS, PEINTEUS, GREAT QUEEN STREET, LONDON, W.C.

^jr^

[■> ^^ »l i